During my junior year of college, I was asked out by a boy that I sort of knew but had not yet met.
Long story short, we came to know each other through me finding his wallet and contacting him in order for him to get it back. The boy had moves.
He made the decision to travel from Huntsville, Alabama up to Dayton, Tennessee in order to take me on a proper date.
I was quite literally ready to explode with nerves and excitement.
I needed to be fully prepared- my hair had to look perfect, my face of makeup had to be on point, and I needed to pick the most flattering outfit I owned.
Why? Because I thought this boy was Fine with a capital F.
So far he had charmed with his kindness, words of encouragement, love for Jesus… and a four door red Ford truck (it had massaging seats!).
I couldn’t afford to mess this up, you feel?
When he arrived I knew that I couldn’t be late, and that as soon as he pulled up I needed to be ready to head outside.
No one wants to be kept waiting, right?
And sure enough, as soon as he pulled up, I headed out of my dorm and was greeted with daisies and a hug.
He took me out on a riverboat cruise, bought me a milkshake, and treated me like a lady. He met my expectations and then some.
Fast forward to 2023, he is no longer in my life. I ended it early on, but that’s a story for another day.
The point of this is to explain that I knew something good was coming, and I was going to be ready to move with my best foot forward.
This week, as I meditated on a similar theme through word and song, I am reminded of the parable of the ten virgins.
“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.
Matthew 25:1-13
Throughout the last few weeks I have imagined what the next ten years of life might look like.
I’ve had questions of where I might be, who I might be with, what I will be doing, and so on.
But, as I have spent time in prayer with the Father, I have been reminded that the specifics of the next ten years are pointless worries.
Whereas they are important decisions and should still be well thought out, the next ten years of life are like a speck of sand in the grand scheme of eternity.
Now, this does not dismiss the need to be ambitious in following the Lord’s call and will on our life. In all things, we should strive to be obedient to the Father and desire to follow the path in which He has set before us.
But, instead of waiting around to see what the next few years of life should look like, I should be preparing myself.
This brings forth the question of how.
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Walk in the light.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Ephesians 5:8-11
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:8-11
If you’re convicted by these passages, you are not alone.
Light leaves no room for darkness, so we cannot be living in both.
Friends, if we walk in any darkness at all, we are therefore no longer walking in the light. Just like we cannot be in two places at once, we cannot walk in both at once.
So as we wait for King Jesus and live life with one another on earth, we can prepare for His coming by walking together in the light as He has called us to live.
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Let the uncertainty of when He is coming launch you into action.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Matthew 24:36
Did your parents ever ask you to finish a certain task before they got home, and then they call you when they're five minutes away- therefore sending you into a panic because you had not yet finished the chore? Me too.
What if we lived for Christ with that same urgency?
Because we do not know the time, we should live with that same “spring into action” urgency of our parents being five minutes out- because He very well may be.
So, let it push you to grow in your personal relationship with Christ, as well as push you to spread that same relationship with others.
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Be active in hope.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Titus 2:11-14
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23
We know the hope in which we have faith is one that is alive, but it is also one that brings us strength.
In order to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, it is crucial to stay active in our hope and faith in Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us.
We must fight the urge to live in mundane routine instead of waking up every morning to remind ourselves of the ultimate hope in Christ.
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Encourage one another and build His church.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25
We were not created to live in isolation, rather we were created to do life together.
Part of doing life together as believers in encouraging one another and building up the body both in spirit and in number.
As we see the Day approach, we know there will be many trials and tribulations, and we will need each other most when that Day does come.
Form those strong relationships now, so that we have comfort in one another and in Christ.
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Overall, we must do the work of Jesus. And we must be ready.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2
Just as I spent the time making sure I was putting my best self forward from a date with a cute boy, I should be preparing the way of the Lord tenfold.
I have known Him, and I have met with Him- but oh the day, when I meet Him face to face...
And friends, the reward will be so much greater than a bouquet of daisies.
It will be greater than any swoon-worthy date.
So fill your lamps, keep your oil- Be ready.
Songs for reflection, prayer, and singing:
"I'll Be Ready" - Tiffany Hudson
"Getting Ready" - Maverick City Music, UPPERROOM
"See, He Comes" - Sovereign Grace Music
"Christ is Mine Forevermore" - CityAlight
"Build Your Church" - Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music
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