Matthew 25:6

New International Version (NIV)

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

For Meditation

As I read the Parable of the Ten Virgins, it reminds me of the inscription on the commercial vehicle my late cousin drove when I was growing up, “Are You Ready?” It was so catchy that it became his nickname. Those were the times when only a few vehicles plied between our town and the big city. If anybody missed the early morning departure to Koforidua, they had to wait another day to travel. His question to the town folks was: “Are you ready to leave town with me when my departure time comes?” It implied that he wouldn’t wait for anybody at departure time.

I believe Jesus is asking the same question today by the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13):

“Are you ready to enter heaven with me anytime I come?”

In the Parable, five of the virgins prepared for an undetermined time for the bridegroom’s coming by packing extra oil for their lamps (4). But how foolish the other five were, who took the bridegroom’s coming for granted and received a rude awakening when he finally arrived (6-9, 12)! The central lesson of this parable is as suggested by Wiersbe: “Not every professing Christian will enter heaven, for some really have not trusted Jesus Christ sincerely. Without the Spirit of God and the Word of God, there can be no true salvation.”

Like the five foolish virgins, many people think they can join the Christian bandwagon and enter the kingdom of God without turning their life to the Lord. They are like the rich young ruler Jesus asked to go, sell all he had, give the money to the poor, and come, follow Him. He went away sad (Luke 18:18-25). They have too much wealth in this world that they cannot give them up for the sake of the kingdom. Yet, they hang around Jesus and play church.

Some become so knowledgeable in the word that they function in the offices of teachers, evangelists, and pastors. They preach the word, cast out demons, and perform many miracles in the name of Jesus (Matthew 7:22), but their hearts are far from Christ. Others hold on to their family Christian heritage, church membership and creeds without seeking the new birth (John 3:3). To others, there is plenty of time to get serious with the Lord, so they harden their hearts and ply on with the pleasures of the world (Luke 16:19).

These and many others will experience the same disappointing fate when the Lord comes for His church—they will be left behind (Mathew 25:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). When they call on Him with their list of works, they will receive the same response: “Truly I tell you, ‘I don’t know you” (Matthew 25:12, 7:23).

They do not know the way of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), so they do not have the witness and seal of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:19). He is the means to pre-check in and Boarding Pass for Heaven Flight 101 (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).

The time is now for everybody to respond by faith to the call of Christ to discipleship (Matthew 28:19; 11:28; 1 John 1:12-13; Romans 10:9-10, 13).

So, are you ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for His bride—the church?