This week’s post is going to be a bit different. We are going to continue with a theme we began last week. We are dealing with the opportunity and responsibility of being prepared for eternity. As we discuss what it looks like to live in the Kingdom of God while still aliens or strangers in this world, no subject is more important than this, “Are we ready to spend eternity in the presence of our Lord in Heaven?” This question is easily answered by answering a second question, “Are we TRULY living lives that affirm we are part of God’s Kingdom now?”
As you remember, Jesus uses the tool of parables to affirm the truth about the Kingdom of Heaven. A parable is simply an earthly story he invents to make an eternal point. Today, we would call them illustrations. The one we are considering this week in Matthew 25:1-13, stands out for a variety of reasons. One is the timing. When Jesus tells this, he has just come to Jerusalem for the final time. In just days, he will lay down his life on the Cross. Knowing he doesn’t have much time left on this earth, he reveals some of his most critical teaching. He has just revealed to the Disciples that no one knows when he will return to take his church to heaven for eternity. However, he expresses the importance of being prepared for that event when he says in Matthew 25:1, “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” He goes on to relate the story of 10 bridesmaids who had the responsibility to be ready for the bridegroom to come and claim his bride. Five did well in their preparation, but five failed to be ready because the bridegroom was so long in coming.
To understand his thought, we need a brief explanation of first century wedding customs in Israel. Once a couple was engaged, there was to be some time pass to allow the groom to prepare financially and to have the necessary living arrangements cared for. When he felt everything was adequately in place, it was then his decision when to go claim his bride. The bride and her attendants were expected to be always prepared for his coming. When the time came, they would celebrate for several days before the couple lived together. Because the groom could come at any hour, it was the responsibility of the attendants to have lamps ready if he came after dark so the bride could find her way to the celebration.
In his story, Jesus refers to the attendants as “virgins”. He reveals the problem in verses 2-5, Five of them were foolish and five were wise.3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. The result of their foolishness was that as they went out to buy the neglected oil, the door to the wedding was shut and they were not allowed to enter.
This is a vivid reminder to us. In our daily existence, it’s easy to get busy and ignore our relationship with Jesus. Over time, this could lead to us “falling asleep” spiritually and not being prepared for the coming of Christ. Unfortunately, there is no second chance. Once Jesus takes his “bride” to heaven, those left behind will spend eternity separated from our Lord. Jesus affirms his waning with these words in verses 12-13, “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”