Be Prepared

~~~ 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8  ~~~ Psalm 97 ~~~ Matthew 25:1-13 ~~~

 

This is a lesson in opposites...prepared/not prepared...light/darkness...awake/asleep.

Is having oil for your lamps a lot like stocking up on bottled water

before a hurricane heads your direction?

Was this a beauty pageant? They were all virgins.

They all represented feminine purity.

 

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.

 

Some were prepared and some waited until the last minute.

Those who are prepared may even be made fun of for being ready.

Those who wait until the last minute may not be able to get what they need.
Sometimes I feel sorry for the five virgins who miscalculated
how much oil they would need.
They did after all bring their lamps.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path“
Psalm 119

 Perhaps it is not enough to just bring your lamp.
You must also carry with you the necessary fuel to keep the fire burning.

 

...all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

Before you can trim your lamp you must extinguish the flame.

So you no longer have your source of light.

Once the flame is out then you trim, cut off the burned part of the wick.

After this used part has been removed the oil is replenished

 and can be lit once again.

The fresh wick can now burn more brightly.

  

 

The Bridegroom does not come until midnight...most people
may reasonably be asleep by then.
Midnight is in the middle of the night; darkness prevails.
Any tiny flicker of light can be seen from a distance away.
Midnight is when one day begins and the new day begins.
 

...stay awake...

When the Bridegroom comes it will be the beginning of a new day.
It will be a new glorious day of celebration for those who are prepared...
those who have enough oil to keep their lamps lit. 

 Scripture never tells us who makes the cry announcing the Bridegroom's arrival,
because it is not important who made the cry.

 

 If the Messiah is the Bridegroom then when he comes
 it is the end of our old life and the beginning of our new life.

 

 ...for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

Being prepared is something that takes daily attention.
Since we do not know exactly when the Lord will come to the banquet.
If we are diligent about being prepared then the midnight hour will not catch us off guard.
We will have the extra oil to keep our lamps burning brightly.
We will have taken the time to trim our wicks.
Our light will be burning brightly. 

Blessings come in trimming the wick as well as
carrying with you extra oil.

Grab Your Lamp!

 

~~~ 1 Cor 1: 17-25 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Matthew 25:1-13 ~~~

 

Today we have a repeat of yesterday's mantra...

"...Stay awake for you know neither the day nor the hour."

 

The virgins who joined in the banquet were prepared.

They were indeed awake. They had planned well.

They were not just living for the moment.

They knew it was up to themselves to be ready

whenever the bridegroom did arrive.

They took responsibility for themselves.

No one can be ready and prepared for you.

No one else is required to help you be prepared.

No one is responsible for your readiness.

 

I just saw news footage of people being rescued

from their flooded houses

during the recent hurricane.

The truth is they were not prepared.

They did not heed the warnings.

In some cases they made a conscious decision to ignore the orders to evacuate.

So they took the chance of being plucked from their attic in the quickly rising waters.

They were willing to put the lives of the rescuers at risk for their own decisions.

 

For the longest time I used to think that the virgins

who were prepared were just selfish.

I used to think that the christian thing to do would have been to share.

But, typical of these Jesus stories, there is another view point at play here.

 

While it might be worthwhile to be concerned and care

about the wel-being of others,

ultimately you are responsible for yourself.

You cannot rely on others to take care of you

unless you are incapacitated.

Your soul preparedness is uniquely your chore...your assignment.

You are the one who must care for your soul...

you are the one who must secure oil for your lamp...

you are the one who must trim your wick in order

to have a more efficient lamp.

 

Your lamp provides a light for your path...a light for you feet.

If your lamp goes out it is you who will stumble and fall.

Another's lamp may provide some light for you along the way,

but it will not be like having your very own lamp.

 

Having your own lamp gives you the freedom and flexibility to move to around giving you the best sight possible.

 

If you allow your lamp to go out there is no one to blame but yourself.

If you allow your lamp to run out of oil;

there is no one but yourself to point a finger at.  

 

If you have your lamp oil burning it is a known fact that is must be dark.

You would not need to use your lamp oil in the daylight.

 

In the daylight is when you make your plans.

You check to see if you indeed have enough oil for your lamp.

If you have been awake and made your plans in the light of the day you will be

prepared when the time comes to light your lamp.

 

It is sad to think that when the bridegroom comes

you may be denied access to the banquet

because you were not prepared.

 

 Everyday is another opportunity to be prepared for the

arrival of the bridegroom.

So do want to stand with the prepared wise five or

will you stand with the unprepared foolish five?

 

 

You know where you stand right now.

This is valuable knowledge.

If you stand with the wise then you must continue

to be vigilant to maintain your state of preparedness. 

On the other hand if you stand with the foolish;

it is time

to start changing.

This is what is so great about Lent.

Lent is a major reminder to be prepared.

But we cannot wait until then, because we simply do not

know either the day or the hour

when the Lord will come.

 

People Get Ready, as the old gospel song says.

Get Ready to Stand with the Wise.