Ultimately, this is the moment that will reveal whether or not you have been living your life on purpose. It’s the day your life’s work will speak for itself whether it has prepared you for this moment, or not. It’s the finish line for the end of a race you either ran well, or not; the capstone of a life that had an eternal significance in the lives of others and brought glory to God, or not.
Christmas is that time of year when people all over the world will make preparations in anticipation of its arrival. It celebrates the First Advent, or the arrival of God, who came to us 2,000 years ago through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Additionally, Jesus taught that there would be a Second Advent, an arrival in the future, that all His disciples needed to be ready for because no one knows the time or the hour in which it will take place.
What makes this future event so critical for all of humanity, is that not being ready for it will not only reveal whether or not we have be living our lives on purpose, but also will usher in outcomes that are eternal in nature.
One of the many ways Jesus prepared His disciples for this future moment was by teaching through parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
Now, during the last week of His life here on earth, Jesus shared a parable often referred to as the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.
† “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.”
Matthew 25:1-4 NRSV
Note how Jesus made a distinction that five of the bridesmaids were foolish and the other five were wise. The distinction being that the five foolish bridesmaids took no oil with them. Their lamps (which most scholars agree were more likely torches) when lit would have only lasted about 15 minutes before needing to be rewrapped with another oil-dipped rag.
Jesus continued His parable by saying . . .
† “As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’”
Matthew 25:5-9 NRSV
It was at this moment, that the foolish five realized their lamps were going to go out because they brought no oil with them. The wise five, on the other hand, knew the oil they did bring would not be enough for all ten of them. In fact, the entire wedding would have been ruined if their lamps went out as well.
Jesus continued His story sharing that when the foolish five went to buy some oil, . . .
† “…the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Matthew 25:10-13 NRSV
Now let me ask you something: Why were these five foolish bridesmaids not ready for the moment for which they were purposed?
The foolish five were not ready because they failed to understand the moment they were purposed for, and thus, failed to foresee what they would need for that moment. They didn’t have enough oil to keep their lamps burning brightly for the moment when the bridegroom made his arrival.
When we fail to understand what God has called us to be ready for, we can also fail to forsee what we might need for that moment, especially that moment when our King arrives!
Think of it this way: In the Bible, different grades of olive oil were often used for various purposes like for cooking, keeping a burning flame lit, healing the sick, or for anointing leadership. Oil also represents an aspect of the Holy Spirit’s nature that supplies our lives with what we need to keep our light shining brightly in a dark world, and for that moment when our King arrives.
Without being attentive to the Holy Spirit’s supply in our lives, we are not living on purpose because we are not preparing for that moment when our light is going to be needed most—when our King arrives!!
Another big challenge for a lot of people is that when we build our lives upon our own agenda and timeline, we are basically outlining what we want to accomplish in life and what we’ll need to get there.
The problem, however, is that the crowning moment of our life’s work and purpose is not tied to our agenda and timeline, but the Lord’s agenda and timeline. And the kicker is, no one knows the time or the hour when our King will arrive!!
Let me encourage you today!
† “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.”
Luke 12:35-36 NRSV
If you don’t know Jesus, start following Him today! Don’t be faithless any longer, believe! Deepen your faith and let God renew your life.
When you do this, you won’t have to worry about your life ending in tragedy because in Christ, you’re going to get a fresh start, a new beginning. And you’ll be ready for that moment when your King arrives!
Let’s PRAY this prayer together!
O LORD our God, Abba Father, send the light of your Son into our lives anew today. Through your mercy, help us to understand that You have purposed us for a moment in the future in which every human being on the planet needs to be ready for—the arrival of your Son and His Kingdom!
Grant unto us this day the grace to make all things right with You through your Son Jesus Christ, and to be ready for His return whenever that may be. May your Holy Spirit supply us with everything we need to let our light shine brightly and to bring glory to your name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen!