Last week we celebrated our dearly departed saints as we explored being part of the great multitude in the kingdom of God that the Lamb of God has prepared for not only the saints in the great cloud of witnesses gone before us, but has waiting for us, too, when that time comes. Of course, we don’t know when our Lord will come calling to welcome us to our final home, whether it be our earthly bodily death or when Jesus comes again. For now, we wait and let God be God.
But in the meantime, Jesus wants to prepare us by giving us hints of what the kingdom of heaven is like so we’ll be ready to acquire it when the time comes. He uses parables or stories to help us glean a clearer picture of all that’s beyond our understanding and comprehension.
He wants us to be awake and alert to see what God’s doing among us. Matthew includes 4 of those parables back-to-back in his gospel to help us be ready. First he tells one about comparing the wise and wicked servants (Matt. 24:45-51). It teaches us to start living with kingdom values now.
Next is today’s parable of the 10 virgins or young women that shows we’re all responsible for our own spiritual condition. Next is the parable of the talents or loaned money (Matt. 25:14-30). It teaches about using well whatever God’s entrusted to us, whether it’s a little or a lot. Finaly the separation of the sheep and goats (Matt. 25:31-46) stresses how important it is to serve those in need, for “whatever you do for them, you do for me.” (vs. 40)
Before we can all get to heaven (and what a great rejoicing that will be), Jesus says it depends on how we live here first. For starters, we have to be ready and keep awake. This doesn’t mean we’re never supposed to sleep. No, rest is important – even God rested on the 7th day. Our bodies need sleep, but when we’re not sleeping, that’s when we can prepare to be kingdom bound. The best way to do it is to strive to live as Christ-like as possible.
Today we need to figure out what Jesus wants to teach us with the parable before us. At first look (or listen) we might think this has something to do with a wedding. In fact, some translations refer to the women as bridesmaids waiting for a late groom to show up. We could get all caught up with cultural and timespan wedding differences, but that’s not it at all. So, let’s not waste time on doing that!
Instead, I think Jesus uses these ladies, the occasion, and their lamps to grab our attention. Once he has it, he’s offering us a choice – do we want to be in the wise group or the foolish group? We’re all together, waiting for something great to happen. And, it just so happens, we all have these lamps. Now what?
First off, these ladies do teach us 2 important things. First – it warns us that some things can’t be obtained at the last minute. So, if it’s something really, really important – like our salvation, it’s best to start working on our relationship with Jesus ASAP. We might remember the last minute thief’s encounter with Jesus as they hung from their crosses who Jesus said will be with him in paradise, but we don’t want to take the chance. Remember in 1 Cor. 15, Paul says it could happen in a flash; in the twinkling of an eye. Be ready!
And next, we know we should share our blessings, esp. with the poor, but there are certain things that just can’t be borrowed. Our faith and relationship with Jesus is the prime example. This is something that can only be between us and Jesus. No matter how much someone else loves you and prays for you, they can’t save you. So we must work out our own salvation with Jesus “with fear and trembling.”
Now, let’s go back in time in our own lives for a minute to compare the world’s ways with Jesus.’ Remember when you were a kid and you had to get ready for church, a school program, or even a wedding? Your Mom made sure you were all ready with your neatly pressed, fancy clothes on, shoes shined, hair all in place, and your face, hands, and knees all clean. Then she’d say to sit still until it was time to go. “Sit there and don’t move until I say so!” And we’d do exactly that so we didn’t do anything to make ourselves “unready” for whatever big event we were waiting for.
But Jesus didn’t say: “Sit still and don’t get messy.” He says “stay awake and be ready!” Keep doing stuff to not only get ready, but be ready. Why? Because “you know neither the day nor the hour.” Huh? Does he mean we’re too dumb or ignorant to know? Did we miss something all those years in Sunday School or all the sermons we kind of tuned out, or were we too busy with unimportant things in our crazy lives?
No. Jesus’ invitation to be ready and keep awake is more about engaging in the joy of living; to embrace the presence of the kingdom as we recognize the blessing of the relationships of the Holy Spirit living in us and in the community of believers around us. It’s an invitation to keep awake and prepare to live in the abundant life that Jesus offers in John 10:10 as we grow in our faith and share the love Jesus has lavished on us with all of God’s children.
But even more, Jesus is inviting us to be spiritually ready – to grow in our belief in him as our Lord and Savior and in our personal relationship with him to be our Best Friend Forever. In other words, let him be the One we always talk to, cry out to, laugh with, pray to, and put first before anyone or anything else; keep him at the center of all we are and do. Having enough oil to keep that life-line flowing and the light that guides us shining is what it’s all about; living here in our preparation time and eternally for our forever life in heaven.
Jesus is also teaching us about a very special presence; waiting for a very special someone or something, as the 10 women were. We must be present in the waiting before we sleep. We must make sure everything’s ready before the resting, just in case! Be alert, be ready, pay attention to what’s happening and needed around you, in you, and to you. Share your stories of faith and life with each other, laugh with those who laugh, weep with those who weep, pray with those who need prayer or pray for you. Build those relationships while growing closer to Christ and his love.
Let’s earn this from the 5 foolish ladies: spiritual preparation for life in the kingdom can’t be bought or borrowed any time and certainly not at the last minute. We don’t know what time or what day Jesus will return, nor when or how we’ll be blessed to catch a glimpse of him in the people God puts in our lives or in the needs. It just might be today, so, as Jesus says, let the Holy Spirit help you be ready and stay awake! Then you’ll be blessed someday to hear those precious words: “Well done, my good and faithful friend! Come and enter your Master’s happiness forever!” Thanks be to God! Amen.