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Dec 13, 2022 18:30pm

Are You Ready?

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It was the big project of 8th grade science. Everyone knew it was coming. White Styrofoam square board, straight pins, labels, and at least 25 bugs.

We had been talking about it for weeks and Mr. Williams told us exactly when it was due. No problem! I saw bugs all the time. This was going to be a piece of cake.

Ballgames, practice, hours on the phone, movies, overnight stays at friends’ houses, and pretty much anything a 14-year-old could get themselves into was my life at the time.

I stepped onto the bus that morning and noticed Johnny with his white foam board.

Panic.

My stomach flopped, my heart sank, and a rush of anxiety swept over me.

The bug collection.

It was due today. I had a foam board, but I didn’t even have one stinking bug! What was I going to do?

I sprinted around campus looking for classmates to see if they had any extra.

“Don’t you have at least two flies? Everybody has more than one fly!”

“I’ll take a grasshopper; do you have an extra one of those?”

“A moth. Anyone have an extra moth?!”

But to no avail. They had none to spare. I scoured the grounds until the bell rang and came up pretty empty handed. The truth was, I had put it off. I thought everything else was more important and I thought, I’ll have time to do it later.

They were ready and I was not.

Do you realize this is where many will be when the Lord returns? Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 25.

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

Ten bridesmaids waited to be called for the wedding feast. They would be part of the parade to the banquet after the wedding ceremony. How long would they wait? Sometimes it could be about a week, but with no way to know, they should be prepared.

In this parable, half of the bridesmaids were prepared to go meet the groom. They not only had their lamps, but they had brought extra oil. The other five, however, were not ready. They had not taken the time to get what was needed. In a panic, they begged for oil for their lamps from the others, but they couldn’t share. It was their own responsibility to do what was necessary to be ready for this moment.

They rushed to buy more oil, but when they returned, it was too late. The groom had come, the others were gone, and they were left behind.

Are you ready?

Jesus, the groom, will return for His bride, the church. There will be a call and those that are in Christ will rise up to meet Him in the air. But for those that have not accepted Him as their Savior, they will be left behind.

They can beg and plead with the Lord but at that point, it will be too late.

We do not know when the Lord will sound the call. We must be ready now. Are you?

Choose to put your trust in Jesus today and follow Him. Give up the ways of this world and choose Jesus.