“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13 NIV)
My wife and I are attending our second wedding in six days. Last week it was a former student’s. This week it is my nephew’s. Having been involved in a wedding as a groom and in many as an officiant, I know weddings take a lot of planning. Months, and sometimes years, before the big day, prospective brides in particular are making plans. They are combing through bridal magazines looking for ideas for everything from the dress to the reception. They indeed sweat the details!
When the time comes to walk down the aisle, they are ready. The months and years of preparation culminate in the most exciting and beautiful day of their lives. Everything is set for them to meet their bridegroom!
Scripture, in many places, references the Lord as the bridegroom at a wedding (Isaiah 62:5). And we are the bride (Revelation 19:7). Yet, as this parable reveals, many of us are not preparing for the day of our wedding. Instead, we are busy with the life right in front of us. We are thinking of today, but very little about the big Day. It seems a long way off and the immediate takes precedence.
Yet, Jesus portrays such thinking as foolish. When a bride is preparing for her wedding, she is living her life, but is always mindful of the Day that is approaching. Never does she allow herself to get so caught up in the present that she neglects her wedding preparations. So Jesus warns us that there is a big day coming and we need to be sweating the details of it.
As a bride makes intricate preparations to make herself look beautiful for her groom, so are we to do the same as we prepare to meet our Lord; not because we must, but because we love Him so much!
Today, in what specific ways are you preparing for your big Day? It is coming and the Lord will be waiting. The question is: Will you be ready?
© Jim Musser 2013
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