Being Prepared
Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 11 September 1999 19:00
Effective Living in a Busy World
Some of you like to be prepared. You don?t like surprises. Others of you like to move through life spontaneously, you love surprises. But even those who like spontaneity recognize the importance of preparation. The best presentations, the most dynamic campaigns, the most effective wars are the ones, which receive the most advance preparation. So if we want our lives to be dynamic, and effective we should be prepared ? Right? But for what?
Jesus said we should live our lives in a state of vigilant readiness, constantly prepared for him to intervene. Looking for his activity. And ultimately - ready for him to come again in full power to end the world
.Matthew 25:1-13
(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.
This parable is based on the wedding customs at the time of Jesus. Jewish weddings typically took place at night at an undesignated. Prior to the ceremony, the groom and a host of his friends would wind their way through the streets of the village. The groom and his wedding party would lead the way holding torches or lamps. The light served both a ceremonial and a practical function. Obviously, this was before streetlights. The party needed the light in order to see.
The groom?s party would make their way to the bride?s home where they would pick up the bride, along with her friends and family, and lead them in a procession to the predetermined place for the ceremony. The bride would wait. She and her party would also have torches or lamps. They would spend the early hours of the night telling old stories and waiting for the groom.
The virgins in Jesus? story are friends and attendants of the bride. They do not know the exact time of his arrival. With each passing moment the excitement builds?
Suddenly, five of the bridesmaids realize that they do not have oil for their lamps. They are terribly embarrassed. They cannot join in the procession. They have attended to many details, but they have forgotten the most important. They are unprepared.
"Therefore, keep watch," Jesus said in summary, "because you do not know the day or the hour," meaning the day or the hour when I will return.
- As we approach the millennium, fascination rises concerning the end times and Jesus? second coming.
- Is it true? What will happen? When?
- Yes, it?s true! Jesus promised he would return.
- The Bible does address how it will happen and some clues about when. Interesting to study. But that?s not the main point!!! The main point is, it?s going to happen so be ready for it.
- We are not on the date and time committee. We are on the preparation committee.
- Jesus is not talking about an event here. He is talking about a lifestyle. Live your life in a way that has the reality of his second coming constantly before you.
- What difference does it make whether Jesus is coming again or not.
- If he is then we live with urgency. (Not busier, but with more gravity, more seriousness)
- If he is coming again then that gives our lives definite meaning.
- If Jesus is coming again, we can live with great confidence and security.
We also know how things are going to end... that changes the way we live!
Jesus makes it clear that you cannot live off of someone else?s preparation. You must, yourself, make ready. You, must live a life of vigilant preparedness.
Things to think about:
- Have you in the past (or in the present) tried to live off the "oil" of someone else?s faith? If so, whose faith?
- my parents?
- my spouse?s
- my friends?
- my church?s
- other __________________________
- What prevents you from being more prepared?
- worries
- lack of belief
- I?m to young
- too busy
- other ___________________________
- What would Jesus say to that last response?
Listen if you live with this kind of vigilance you will be a little weird. But Jesus told us flat out the world would think we were weird. How could they not, he said. They think I?m weird.