Journey 2020: Vision For Christ – Preparing For Christ
“Be prepared.” It’s the motto of the Boy Scouts. It’s a song in The Lion King. It’s a message from Jesus to all His disciples – “Be prepared!”
The Wise and Foolish Virgins
“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 ones, 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. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13, NIV)
One of the tenants of the Christian faith is that Christ will return! Christ is not dead! He died, He rose, He ascended into Heaven, and He will return to claim His children. Are you prepared?
In this parable, Jesus Christ is represented by the bridegroom. The two sets of five virgins, the prepared and the unprepared, represent those who have the Holy Spirit, and those who are not truly saved. Jesus tells this parable to His disciples to warn them to be prepared for His return. Those that brought extra oil were prepared. They did not know how long they would have to wait, so they had reserves ready and waiting, so that when the time came, they were ready. Those that did not bring extra oil were not truly prepared, were not truly ready.
The oil in the parable represents the Holy Spirit. Those that brought the extra oil, were truly saved. A person cannot wait until Jesus’ return to be saved! Nor can the Holy Spirit be shared between two people. Each must have the Holy Spirit for themselves!
Just like the virgins did not know when the bridegroom would appear, we do not know when we Christ will again appear. The date and hour of his return is known only to the Lord. Further, we do not know how long we will have on this earth. People die unexpectedly everyday. When that day comes for you, will your lamp be filled with oil?
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