Be Prepared!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

After reading this parable about the ten virgins I have to share with you my experience with understanding this parable.

Many years ago some of the women in my church turned this parable into a drama and performed it before the congregation. My grandmother happened to be one of the virgins who did not bring the oil with her. Everything was great about it, they were bringing the word of God to life and we were able to actually see the story before our eyes, making it even more real and memorable for each of us. Then when the time came and the door was closed my grandmother began to beat upon the door while begging them to please open the door, tears began to pour down her face and she began to plead even more desperately for them to let her in. Later she told us that she became overwhelmed with the feeling of being left by God, she said I began to think about how terrible that would be and how lonely one would feel when that door closed and the thought that it would never open again. While that has been many, many years ago I have never forgot the sound of her voice and the look upon her face as should stood in front of the closed door.

God is so good to us and he is so full of love, but it is still up to us individually to choose to live for him or not, while he loves us infinitely he will not make the choice for us. There is no in between, we wither choose Him or we choose Satan----it is really that simple, only two choices, life or death?

The parable of the ten virgins is just another reminder from Jesus about how important it is to be prepared, whether we die or he returns we have to be prepared. You know I think of each day as another day to prepare, another day to do a little more for Jesus, another day to show others who he is, and another step closer to my eternal home.  My grandmother allowed the Holy Spirit to guide her during this drama, as she did it not only prepared her better, it not only drew her closer to Christ, it placed a deeper desire in me and I am sure others to be more prepared for our Lord.  Her obedience caused me to be more obedient and the cycle continues through us all when we follow the call of Jesus.