Make three bowls of Jello, some pudding, have yogurt and ice cream available and don’t forget the frozen peas in two bags. Odd preparations unless you know that my two teenagers are getting their wisdom teeth removed shortly. (‘Cause they need less wisdom… J ) So, soft foods will be the menu of the day, and the frozen bags of peas that conform to their faces better to help with the swelling, and we are all set.
Some things in life just call for advance preparation- like camping. We have a list, check it off as we pack, and then the next day pack up the vehicle to leave. You can’t just wait until the last minute or things will be forgotten, or worse, you can’t leave until you find your passport. There is a story in the Bible that talks about being prepared for the Lord’s return:
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Mt. 25:1-13
The wise virgins were ready and waiting for the bridegroom, but the unwise virgins probably thought they had all the time in the world to prepare. After all, they were still so young. There is always tomorrow, right? By the time they realized their error, it was too late and they were shut out of the wedding feast. If we don’t want to be shut out of the greatest experience of our lives- Heaven with God forever- then we need to prepare. We should learn from this parable, and be ready for our Beloved to return.
We all need to make preparations for Jesus’ return. He is assuredly coming back for us (1), but will He find us ready (2), ‘passport’ in hand, all packed and ready to leave, or will we have forgotten the basics: a new heart (Ez. 36:26), a renewed mind (Rom. 12:2), and a love for Him that will never die (Lk. 10:27). When He returns, will He say, “I never knew you (3)”, or “I know you, well done my good and faithful servant”? (Mt. 25:21)
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1. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th. ,17
2. So you, too, must be ready, because at an hour you are not expecting him the Son of Man will come."
Mt. 24:44 ISV
3. So by their fruit you will know them." "Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you…
Mt. 7:20-23 ISV