Word For Today

Would you be ready to meet God face-to-face tomorrow? Perhaps that's a scary thought! Or something you have never thought about before. But it is important to be prepared. Jesus tells a story about being prepared for his return:

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

Matthew 25:1-5

In the passage the wise virgins were prepared for the long wait, they had taken enough oil to last for the evening, but the foolish virgins had not... They were unprepared and suffered the consequences:

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘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.’

¹⁰ “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.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

Matthew 25:6-12

The Bible says if you repent of your sins and dedicate your life to following Jesus, there's no need to fear! You are prepared for the time when God will come and judge the living and the dead. When it's time to give an account, Jesus will purify all who have been faithful to Him.

But for those who are not prepared, who have not repented of their sins and dedicated their lives to Jesus, the situation is dire. In the story, Jesus says to the foolish virgins "Truly I tell you, I don't know you", in the end, nothing else mattered, not their wealth, status, or possessions. They had no relationship with Jesus, so they were locked out of the banquet. Make things right with God today, while you still have time.

Live for Jesus and receive the hope of Heaven!