11. Be Ready
Be Ready
We are used to getting ready for all sorts of activities, but staying ready is another matter. It involves an ongoing effort similar to having our bags packed, ready to evacuate, if we live on the east coast of the United States during hurricane season. To take the risk and try to ride out the storm is a life-threatening gamble.
When it comes to our spiritual lives, we are also told to stay in readiness. This is not easy to do.
Jesus told a gripping parable about ten virgins (Matthew 25) who were waiting up late for the bridegroom to arrive. Five of them ran short on oil for their lamps and weren’t ready. They raced to the market to buy more oil. While they were away the bridegroom arrived and the door was locked to them when then finally made it back. The last line of the story says, Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour (verse 12).
The parable is a sobering reminder of the consequences of being unprepared. But what a time of joy we’ll experience when our next assignment arrives from heaven and we are ready to fulfill it!
Scripture Review:
Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42)
Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-12)
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with [wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)