Be Prepared

Keep a watch
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  
The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  
The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 
“ ‘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.’ 
“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. 
“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 
“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” 
                                                                                                  Matthew 25:1-13
Here is a simple parable with a simple meaning for all Christians. Be prepared because we do not know when Christ will return.
I have heard many throughout the years say that means we should study Revelations because the time is short and Christ return in imminent. That might be true, and there is nothing wrong with studying Revelations. The problem is many are studying Revelations to see if they can pin point the hour when Christ returns.
The hour when Christ returns is immaterial to the Christian walk. The key in the above parable is ‘BE PREPARED’
All to many Christians are not prepared. They are not studying the word of God they are not praying, they are not reaching out to the lost. There lives are not wholly committed to Christ.
As believers in Christ we must be doing what He commanded us to do. To go and reach the lost. To teach new converts all that is written in the scriptures.
In John’s gospel Jesus tells this parable,
“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.  
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.  
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labour.” 
                                                John 4:35-38.
We as Christians in the twenty-first century stand on the shoulders of millions of other Christians that have gone before us. The Gospel of Christ has now reached every corner of the world.
The fields of the world are ready for harvest all we need to do is have the will to reach out and harvest.
As Christians in the twenty-first century we in deed need to be ready for the coming of Christ because he is nearer now than ever before.
As a result we need to work all the harder to bring souls into the kingdom. Are you?
Please think about it.