The Light of Christmas: Be Prepared

Life is short.

The sooner this powerful, yet simple, truth is grasped the greater the change we can have. Kids don’t stay kids for long.

We do not like to wait.

Does anyone really like to wait? I don’t at times. We talk about patience being a virtue but the reality is many of us do not want the virtue. This is not just a problem for the young among us but even us adults have a hard time waiting.

Advent reminds us waiting is important.

This time of year is a good reminder of our need to learn the importance of waiting. The journey of advent reminds us the people of God are called to wait upon Him in many ways. God’s timing is not our timing.

Jesus told stories about waiting.

The importance of waiting was not something Jesus left undiscussed. Our Lord knew of the importance of teaching us to wait.

Truth: Jesus is coming again!

Just as his first coming was prophesied and came to be so to will be the truth of the future.

John 14:3–4 (NIV)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

We are to be prepared every day!

The story/parable before us this morning is a reminder of this. As we read the story we must always keep in mind verse 13: “keep watch”.

Preparation is knowing Jesus and being known by Jesus.

Many of us, and people in general, know about Jesus and can say some great things but in the end may not be known by Jesus. Being known by Jesus is confessing Him as Lord and living as He is Lord.

We must be faithful to His mission.

We are not just hoping we guess things right. This is not a “let me hurry and get ready” type of thing. The difference between the virgins in our story was not the waiting but in the fact they were ready for whenever the time would come. All slept, all had torches, but some thought they “knew when things would happen”.

Live with eternity in mind.

If Jesus came back today would that make a difference in what you would do? The thing I strive for, would it be what I would strive if I knew the Lord was coming back?

Accept the peace of advent (both of them).

The peace of the first advent was announced “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom His favor rest” of Luke 2 and then the peace which comes from knowing Jesus said, “My peace I give you” of John 14.

Let us wait expectedly.

Let us be prepared for the Lord’s return

Let us invite others to the feast.

Come and see the Lord who came and is coming again for all who hear his voice and listen to him. God is not about judgement always, though it is part of ther reality, he is about seeking and saving the lost.