Are You Ready?

On Tuesday, I was in a training class, and one of our exercises was to close our eyes and imagine where we would be in ten years, and then imagine we were walking on a path. At the end of the path, there was a sign, and we were to imagine what our sign would say. We had to write down the first thing that came to mind.

Here is what my sign said: Are You Ready?

After seeing that sign, I immediately began to reflect on how I would respond. Of course, the first response was "ready for what?" However, because this was a class exercise, I didn't have the opportunity to dwell on the other responses that came to mind. Later in class, we were broken up into pairs to discuss what we saw on our sign. When I shared what my sign said, my partner asked my response. My response was “almost”. My response was based on where I see myself in ten years, but my answer made me think about if my ten years was now. If my ten years was now, I would not be ready.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom [a]is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.” — Matthew 25:6-10

In Matthew 25:1-13, there is a parable about ten virgins. Five of them were deemed wise and five were deemed foolish. The word on the streets was that the bridegroom was coming, but no one knew when. So, the five wise virgins went out and bought extra oil for their lamps, so that they would be sure to have light. The five foolish virgins went about their lives and eventually went to sleep. Sure enough, the bridegroom came at midnight, and the five wise virgins grabbed their lamps and extra oil to go meet him. The foolish virgins asked the wise for oil, because their lamps were starting to go out, but the wise declined because there would not be enough if they needed it. The foolish went to buy oil, and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived and the doors were closed to the wedding. The foolish begged to be let in, but the doors could not be opened because the wedding had begun. The question that this story leaves us with is the same question that was on my sign - Are You Ready?

Earlier, I shared that my response was “almost”. There’s a saying that almost only counts in horseshoes. Take some time to reflect on this question. Even in light of what is going on in the world, are you ready? When you heard the reports of a possible shut down, what was your response? When you look at your life ten years from now and you’re at the age to retire, will you be ready? When this chaos passes, will your business be ready to handle the influx of customers? Will your church be ready to handle the influx of new believers or those searching for Christ? Lastly, and most importantly, when Jesus returns, will you be prepared like the five wise virgins or will you choose sleep over preparation? My challenge to you is to not only be prepared in certain areas, but be prepared in every area. It does no good to be prepared financially, if you are not spiritually prepared for eternity. Take a walk down that path and see what your sign is, and then answer accordingly.

Until next week…

Be blessed, but first comes obedience!

Rev. Robin