I drove up to the Zambian border crossing and hurried into the office only seconds before it closed for the day. Had I been a minute later, the Custom Agents would have locked the office door, and closed and chained the crossing gate. It was 60 miles back to any type food or shelter for the night. A second opportunity of entering that particular day would not be available.
I have preached and written numerous times that the LORD is a God of second chances. He gives everyone numerous opportunities to receive Christ as Savior. He gives Christians second chances to repent and to receive forgiveness, and to live a righteous life. However, there is one event that forever closes the gate—death. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Heb 9:27). You cannot change your eternal destiny after death.
I have been studying another event for which there also appears to be no second chance. In Matthew 24, 25, Jesus teaches about His second coming. Repeatedly, all through the Gospels, Jesus sternly warned that we must watch and be ready for His return. In the parable of the ten virgins in Matt 25:1-13, I recently saw something from a totally new prospective. This parable is probably the most misinterpreted parable in the Gospels. Many teachers allegorize every word trying to make it say something beyond its intent. Yet, it simply means that we must watch and be prepared, for there are consequences for not being ready. Jesus framed the parable around ten girls planning to attend a wedding and possibly, they were bridal attendants. He uses a Jewish wedding as its setting. Differing from a Western wedding today, the bridegroom gave only an approximate time when he would lead a procession to the place of the marriage ceremony. Often the participants and guest waited for hours. This was the case in this parable, the bridegroom delayed.
After a lengthy wait, In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him’ (v6). As bridegroom came, walking down the road, everyone lit their lamps, and joined the jubilant parade. Five of the girls were still ready even after the delay. However, five of the girls were not ready because they had no extra oil for their lamps. In a futile effort, they rushed to buy oil. However, while they were gone, the wedding procession came and continued on to the place prepared for the wedding. By the time these five unprepared girls arrived, the doorkeeper had shut and locked the door. Even after pleading, they were denied entrance. They had not been prepared for the event; there was no second chance.
Just this one teaching shows the seriousness of watching and being ready for Christ’s return. The one thing we know for sure about the coming of Christ, is that we do not know when it will occur. Jesus also said, If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:43, 44).
So the question I have been pondering is what makes one ready? I am a Christian. I cannot answer this in a detailed theological statement. Even trying to do so, would miss the point of the parable and many other scriptures exhorting us to watch and be prepared. I can only examine my own life and ask the Holy Spirit if there is anything keeping me from being prepared. Neither, can I answer this for anyone reading this. It is something only the Holy Spirit can show you in your own particular life. The good news is, even if we are not prepared; we still have time to get ready. The door has not yet closed.
The participants of a Jewish wedding knew the approximate time frame in which the wedding would take place, but did not know the exact hour. They had to get ready and to stay ready. We can look at the signs around us today and know we are nearing the hour. Paul wrote, But you, brothers, are not in the dark, so that this day would overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We’re not of the night or of darkness. So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be sober (1 Thess. 5:4-6).
The number of admonitions concerning ‘readiness for His coming’ are too numerous to list in this limited space. But just the mere emphasis in Scripture shows the importance of watching and being ready. We almost missed the opportunity to cross the border; even so, we knew that after a miserable night, we would have another opportunity the next day. However, concerning death, there is no tomorrow. For the return of Christ for His church, there is apparently only one opportunity. I cannot say those who are unprepared will not enter heaven. That is not the focus of the parable. Rather than getting lost in all the theological issues, understand the lesson; be prepared for there are consequences for not being ready.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Are you ready? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Is He giving you another opportunity? If there are issues keeping you unprepared, there is still time. The door has not shut. If you are ready and watching, rejoice for He is coming soon.