Get Ready
Theme: Each person is responsible for their eternal destiny.
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Here’s a thought: If you found out today that Jesus would return in seven days, how would your next week be different from last week?
Have you ever run out of gas? It has been a while for me, but I have driven on fumes several times.
I remember the summer of 1985, when a van load of us were returning from Moose Lake Camp and ran out of propane (which powered the van) east of Camrose. We had to call a tow truck to rescue us and take us to Camrose to refuel. As the driver, I felt like a real dunce!
I was driving from Vernon, B.C., to Calgary. I drove past one last gas station at Rogers Pass, thinking I would easily make it to Golden. As the kilometres went by, the sun set, and the traffic grew more and more sparse. My breathing grew shallow as I began to wonder what I would do if I ran out of gas before I reached Golden. Thankfully, the Lord answered my prayers and enabled me to make it to a gas station in Golden.
When Leroy Cassell and I bought the church’s first van, the dealership did not bother to fill the tank. We made it to within a hundred feet of the gas pump and had to push the van the rest of the way. I do not want us to run out of gas!
In Matthew chapters 24 and 25, Jesus describes the signs of the end of the age and His return. He uses a parable in Matthew 25:1-13 to urge His followers to be ready for His return:
1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 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. 6 At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” 9 “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.” 10 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. 11 Later the others also came. “Sir! Sir!” they said. “Open the door for us!” 12 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. NIV
The Inter-Varsity Press Bible Background Commentary describes the cultural backdrop for this parable:
Weddings were held toward evening and torches were used as part of the celebration, which focused on a procession leading the bride to the groom’s house. It is unlikely that “lamps” refers to the small Herodian oil lamps, which could be carried in the hand; all the evidence points instead to torches, which were also used in Greek and Roman wedding ceremonies. These torches may have been sticks wrapped with oil-soaked rags. In many traditional Palestinian villages in more recent times, the wedding feast occurs at night after a day of dancing; the bridesmaids leave the bride, with whom they have been staying, and go out to meet the bridegroom with torches. They then escort him back to his bride, whom they all in turn escort to the groom’s home.
There are two responses to the return of Jesus Christ:
Foolish
Wise
Foolish
The bolt used to shut doors (Matthew 25:10) was noisy and cumbersome. Maybe it represents an effort to be repeated only if necessary, making new visitors unwelcome (compare Luke 11:7).
The foolish bridesmaids missed the entire procession back to the groom’s house, along with the festive singing and dancing. They also missed the critical element of the Jewish wedding, in which the bride was brought into the groom’s home under the wedding canopy. Having insulted the dignity of the host, they were not admitted to the feast, which lasted for seven days following the ceremony. (Inter-Varsity Press Bible Background Commentary)
The foolish virgins did not take any oil with them. Torches like these could not burn indefinitely; some evidence suggests that they may have burned for only fifteen minutes before the burnt rags would have to be removed and new oil-soaked rags would need to be wrapped on the sticks of which they were made. Because not all the details of ancient Palestinian weddings are known, it is not clear whether the parable envisions the lamps as burning while the bridesmaids slept (to avoid the delay of having to rekindle them) or as being lit only after the first announcement of the bridegroom’s coming (as many scholars think). Either way, if the bridegroom delayed longer than they anticipated, their lamps would not last unless they had an extra reserve of oil. Bridegrooms were often late, and their comings were repeatedly announced until they arrived. (Inter-Varsity Press Bible Background Commentary)
The foolish virgins did not take personal responsibility and depended upon the wise virgins for more oil. Blaming others for our problems or depending upon others to do for us what we could and should do for ourselves will stunt our growth. Taking responsibility for our actions is a key to maturity.
Lots of people have “prayed the prayer” to receive Christ, but their lives show little or no evidence of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Other people have genuinely received Christ and have walked with Him for a long time. Sadly, however, they have grown weary and impatient waiting for His return. As a result, they have drifted off and are no longer ready for the return of the bridegroom.
A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him at the gas station. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.
The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”
Jesus Christ died on the cross, and He was raised from the dead, and history provides plenty of historical evidence. The Scriptures also record with remarkable clarity His promises to return and His ascension into heaven. Jesus is the bridegroom, and He is coming back for His bride – the church. He is not coming back for a building, an organization or even people who call themselves religious or Christian; He is coming back for those who are ready.
What will the unprepared be caught doing or not doing when the Lord returns?
There are two responses to the return of Jesus Christ:
Foolish
Wise
The wise virgins understood that each person is responsible for their eternal destiny. They knew that the bridegroom could arrive later than any of them thought. Both the foolish and the wise bridesmaids fell asleep, but there was one significant difference: the wise virgins had taken oil with them.
The bridesmaids needed sufficient oil to keep the torches lit during the procession to the groom’s home and the dancing. Trying to share the oil would have left too little for any of the torches and ruin the wedding ceremony. It would have been difficult to find dealers at this time of night, however (although some catering shops could have been open if they were near a large city); the foolish bridesmaids were definitely going to be late. The young women were supposed to meet the bridegroom, who would then fetch his bride from her home and lead the whole procession back to his father’s house for the feast. (Inter-Varsity Press Bible Background Commentary)
Yes, we are called to help each other with overwhelming burdens, but ultimately, each of us has our load to carry. Paul describes it this way in Galatians 6:1-5:
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load. NIV
Two nuns were driving down a country road when they ran out of gas. They walked to a farmhouse, and a farmer gave them some gas. The only container he had was an old bedpan. The nuns were happy to take whatever they were offered and returned to the car. As they were pouring the gas from the bedpan into the tank of their car, a minister drove by. He stopped, rolled down his window and said, “Excuse me, sisters. I’m not of your religion, but I couldn’t help admiring your faith!”
The Holy Spirit is symbolized by oil (see Exodus 30:30-31, 1 John 2:27) and by wine in Ephesians 5:8-20:
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV
The Apostle Paul contrasts life in the darkness and life in the light. To live in the darkness is to be asleep to what is godly and righteous and to hide in the shadows, doing all we can to keep from having our deeds exposed. To live in the light is to be ready to make the most of every opportunity that the Lord gives us. These opportunities include words spoken and deeds done that might not be noticed by anyone but the all-hearing and all-seeing God.
Paul contrasts being drunk with wine and being filled with the Holy Spirit. To be drunk with wine is a poor substitute for the “new wine” of the Holy Spirit. It leads to excess, lack of self-control and rioting, while the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control and eternal benefit. Drunkenness leads to a hangover and regrets, while the repeated infilling of the Holy Spirit leads to a sound mind, a clear head and long-term satisfaction. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, the onlookers thought those baptized in the Holy Spirit had drunk too much wine (Acts 2:13).
John Piper concluded, “Life is short. Eternity is long. Live like it.”
It is time to decide not just to live for today and instant gratification but to live with eternity’s values in view. It is time to live in complete dependence upon the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us. Being spiritually ready and fruitful is not a case of trying harder; it is a case of surrendering more.
The word “maranatha” is a Syriac or Aramaic expression that means “our Lord comes.” It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn’t say “hello” or “goodbye” but “Maranatha!” If we had the same upward look today, it would revolutionize the church. If only God’s people had a deepening awareness of the imminent return of the Saviour!
While on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922) left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, “It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!”
They replied, “We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, ‘The boss may come today.’”
The hymn writer Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) exhorted us “to be ready for the last moment by being ready at every moment ... so attending to every duty that, let Him come when He may, He finds the house in perfect order, awaiting His return.” The trumpet may sound anytime. How important for us as followers of Jesus to be “packed and ready to go!” (from “Our Daily Bread”)
If you found out today that Jesus would return in seven days, how would your next week be different from last week?
What adjustments do you need to make in your life to be ready?
There are two responses to the return of Jesus Christ:
Foolish
Wise
Each person is responsible for their eternal destiny. Get ready!
