Be Prepared (03/18/2025)

Last evening at our soup and scripture study, we were opening the parables of Matthew 21, 22, and 25. We struggled with the hard truth of several of them, but none more so than that of the message of the Ten Virgins with their Lamps. Why wouldn’t the five wise virgins share their oil with the five foolish. Jesus tells us other places that we are to share what we have with one another. Just a few verses later, Jesus tells us that we are to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty. Those who didn’t share were doomed. Why was it all right that the five wise lamp bearers didn’t share?

We have to go back to the purpose of that particular parable – to teach us that each of us must take responsibility for preparing ourselves for the coming of the bridegroom – for the coming of Christ. I can share my earthly possession with you, but I cannot make you ready to meet the LORD by giving you a portion of my own readiness. Each of us bears the responsibility of preparing ourselves.

You can pray for me and for my openness to the LORD, but you can’t choose for me. If I choose not to ready myself, not to take conversion to Christ seriously, you cannot give me a portion of yours. It doesn’t work that way. The point of the parable wasn’t sharing. The point of the parable was preparing oneself for life with the LORD.

As I sat and pondered the evening and our conversation, I prayed to the LORD that I would do what I must, all I must to prepare myself for life with Him, life in abundance. I prayed for perseverance; I prayed for guidance. I prayed for others and for their journeys. I prayed that they would choose wisely. I prayed that they would persevere in their journeys. I gave thanks for all who have walked with me along the way and shared their knowledge of the journey. I gave thanks also for their example. And I prayed that I might be such a companion to others along the way. Watching others choose wisely surely helps me understand better the merit of choosing life and love always.

May we all take the time and make the effort this day and all days of our journey to tend to the most important relationship we have – the one with our LORD. May we seek daily to grow into the ones He created us to be by preparing ourselves for the life He wants to share with us always. May we choose wisely always.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.