The Bridegroom is Coming: Are You Prepared?

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to lose sight of an essential truth - Jesus is coming back. This isn't a maybe or a possibility; it's a certainty. The question is, are we ready for His return?

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 paints a vivid picture of what the kingdom of heaven will be like when Christ returns. Ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom, but only five were truly prepared. All had lamps, all had some oil, but only half brought extra oil for the long wait. When the cry came at midnight announcing the bridegroom's arrival, five found themselves woefully unprepared.

This story isn't just a quaint tale from ancient times. It's a wake-up call for every believer today. Jesus is telling us there are only two paths in His kingdom - the way of the wise and the way of the foolish. The wise store up oil, preparing diligently for the bridegroom's return. The foolish live for the moment, assuming there will always be more time.

But what does it mean to "store oil" in our modern context? It's about taking our relationship with God seriously. It means getting up early and staying up late to be with Him. It's praying without ceasing, as Paul exhorts in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It's falling in love with God's Word, never getting enough of it, and letting it transform us from the inside out.

Preparation looks like everyday worship. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." It's turning mundane tasks into moments of praise. It's letting our work become an offering to the Lord. It's bursting into spontaneous worship while going about our day.

We can learn from the example of my baby girl, Rhema, who sees Jesus in everything - from the image on a penny to the simple act of playing with toys. This kind of wholehearted, moment-by-moment love for God is what Jesus calls wise. It's a continual storing up of oil, ensuring we're ready whenever He returns.

But it's all too easy to slip into foolishness. We tell ourselves we'll start taking our relationship with God seriously later. We push off prayer and Bible study, citing busyness or fatigue. We assume we'll have plenty of time to get right with God tomorrow. These are the whispers of foolishness, and they can lead us down a dangerous path.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 24:12-13, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." We must guard against letting our passion for God dwindle. We can't afford to grow weary in doing good.

When Christ returns, there will be two reactions - surprise and startlement. The wise will be surprised but ready, joyfully running to meet their bridegroom. The foolish will be startled and panicked, realizing too late that they're unprepared.

We're living in a time of God's grace and mercy. As 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." But this time of grace won't last forever. There will come a day when it's too late to prepare.

Good intentions aren't enough. Jesus isn't coming back for a bride with good intentions, but for one who has diligently prepared herself. Hell will be filled with people who meant well but never followed through. We must be doers of the word, not hearers only.

When Jesus returns, the door to the wedding feast will close. Those who are ready will enter into eternal joy with their bridegroom. Those who are unprepared will find themselves locked out, hearing the devastating words, "I don't know you." No amount of pleading or regret will open that door once it's shut.

This may sound harsh, but it's actually an expression of God's love. He's warning us now so that we can be ready then. The door of salvation stands open today. As the book of Revelation tells us, there is "a door standing open in heaven." But we must choose to walk through it, to invest in our relationship with God now, before it's too late.

Are you ready for Jesus to return? Do you really know Him - not just facts about Him, but His heart, what brings Him joy and what grieves Him? Are you storing up oil daily, eagerly anticipating His return?

Let's not be caught unprepared. Let's choose wisdom today. Let's make every moment count, living with the constant awareness that our bridegroom is coming. May we be found ready, our lamps burning brightly, when He appears.

The choice is ours. Will we be among the wise, entering into eternal rejoicing? Or will we be among the foolish, facing eternal regret? The time to prepare is now. The bridegroom is coming. Let's store up oil and be ready to meet Him with joy.