Sunday, December 7, 2008 
Scripture reading: Matthew 25:1-13
25‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids* took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.* 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” 7Then all those bridesmaids* got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9But 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.” 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids* came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” 12But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.*
Sermon Title: "READY OR NOT" Sunday, December 7, 2008
REV. KRIS STEELE, ASSOCIATE PASTOR: When Jesus
described the Kingdom of God or when he taught about
judgment, he often used the image of needing to be
prepared, for example, the image of the master
returning from a long journey; or more timely, like a
long, delayed drive-through.
In Matthew, Jesus begins with the parable of the
wise and foolish bridesmaids. 10 bridesmaids took
their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom because
everyone wanted to see him. The Bible says they all
fell asleep during the long wait of his return, but
there was a difference with some in preparedness. Now
undoubtedly, Christians identify Jesus as the
bridegroom.
I want to point out the bridesmaids were all
alike outwardly. They were all alike in wisdom and
knowledge, frailty, and in ignorance. Now the primary
responsibility of the bridesmaids was to light the way
with their oil lamps for the bridegroom, and when it
took longer than the bridesmaids expected for the
bridegroom's arrival, the five foolish bridesmaids
realized their lamps were out of oil. Scripture says
the first thing they did was ask the wise bridesmaids
to borrow some of their oil, but the wise bridesmaids
were unwilling.
You see, Jesus was making the point that there
are some things we must do for ourselves. There are
some things that cannot be borrowed. Often people
think they can live on borrowed things. They'll be
okay because of the faith of their parents, or they'll
be okay because of the faith of their spouse, or
they'll be okay because of the faith of their friends,
but the only faith that will sustain us today,
tomorrow, and in the time of judgment is our own
faith.
What lesson can we learn from this parable? How
does this teaching of Jesus apply to our lives today?
I believe we should interpret this parable as a
command to be ready for Christ's return whenever that
event may take place. I believe we should also
interpret this teaching as not only the need for us to
be ready for death and ready for life after death, but
I also think Jesus is calling us to be spiritually
prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven that is in our
midst right now.
There are other places in the Bible where Jesus
tells his disciples they should watch and pray that
they do not fall into temptation. He speaks of the
need to be prepared for sorrow, the need to be
prepared for persecution, and the need to be prepared
for calamity, but in this parable, Jesus is saying we
need to be prepared for joy.
In Hebrews Chapter 9, Verse 28, the Bible says
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of
many people, and He will appear a second time to bring
salvation, to bring salvation to those who are eagerly
waiting for him. Let us consider for just a moment
the nature of salvation. Salvation is a process.
It's up to us to keep that process alive. Nobody can
do it for us.
Some of our most bitter regrets in life come not
because we were not prepared for the worst, but
because we weren't prepared for the best. Oftentimes
we miss out on those golden opportunities simply
because we're not prepared for them. God created the
world, and He created good in the world, and He set
before human beings a choice of good or a choice of
evil. Life depends on choice.
Nearly half of all marriages in our nation today
end in divorce. Many marriages that end in divorce
are plagued with selfishness, deceit and
unfaithfulness. The power that makes marriage
creative and lasting seems to often be missing, that
power is centered in the love and the strength that
comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ and
through a commitment to your spouse to be there for
better, for worse, for richer or for poorer, in
sickness and in health. Sometimes I think that we may
have forgotten that in marriage it really takes three
to make it work, a man, a woman, and God.
We are celebrating the season of advent. Advent
at this time in the life of our church is about
getting ready. It's about being prepared to receive
Jesus, the savior, God's gift of salvation to the
world. God's word is clear, the bridegroom is the
King. The Savior is coming.
If you really want to experience the true meaning
of Christmas, the true blessings of this very special
time of year, let me encourage you today to accept the
forgiveness, the grace, the mercy and the love that
comes with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Accept today what God is offering and let your
light, your lamp shine bright this holiday season, and
you will be able to experience what Christmas is truly
about. In the name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, amen.