Are We Prepared?

  “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 ones, 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. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

  But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

  Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

                                                                                                           (Matt 25:1-13 NIV)

I am often reminded that I should take more time for myself. I am not always clear on what that actually means. I do have a couple of hobbies:  kayaking and photography. There is a certain amount of preparation needed to actually "do" these hobbies and I really don't have a lot of time to spare for them. Any free time I have is usually spent on the dock watching the fish jump, the alligators swim and watching the birds watch me while I talk with God.

I have often been told that if I really wanted to I would make time for theses hobbies. It is a matter of setting priorities. Indeed, it is! Spending alone time with God is more necessary to me for my well-being than any hobby or other diversion. I love spending time with Jesus way more than any worldly diversion that might please me. Jesus is the priority in my life and so in my spare hours, which are not really spare; but, necessary for my own well-being, I spend alone time with God. I spend my  time alone with Him praying and studying the word found in the scriptures so that I am more prepared to do His will.  But, I do wonder, sometimes, if I am really prepared for him to return in full glory. Just as the ten bridesmaids did not put oil in their lamps preparation for the groom to come and get them for the wedding, I wonder if we are prepared for the day he returns to take us to himself.

St. Peter encouraged us to "... prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance."  (1 Peter 1:13-14 NIV)

Are we prepared?

God's Peace - Pr. J