“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” —Colossians 3:4

My fourth great grandfather, Reverend Ulrich Keener, was a Methodist circuit-riding preacher and the first resident missionary to the Cherokee. He served the Echota Mission, a church-boarding school established in 1850 for Indians remaining after “The Trail of Tears.” Many Indians were brought to Christ through his preaching and teaching. The little log cabin parsonage he lived in and taught from still stands today as a tribute to his life and ministry, as he is still endeared by the Cherokee people.

I love the beauty in which the Annals of Southern Methodism describe his readiness to meet Jesus after a debilitating lung disease brought him to his last hours on earth:

“For some three years past he labored under a wasting disease of the lungs. The disease was so slow in its progress, that his death was not expected, till the Sabbath evening before he died on Thursday, though he was fully prepared to meet it. He told his family often to indulge no fears with regard to his future welfare — that he was going to heaven. He said to all with whom he conversed, that his joys were not so ecstatic as many seemed to have, but the ‘all was well’ — that he could look on his grave with as much composure as he did upon his bed — that death had no terrors for him. He only requested his family not to grieve for him; but to meet him in heaven. He also desired his brethren in the ministry to know how he died, be faithful, and meet him in heaven, and on the 21st August he calmly fell asleep in Jesus, and now rests from his labors and sufferings.” (1857, p. 290)

I don’t know if there is a greater testimony of our faith than the readiness to meet Jesus at any moment. It was that kind of readiness that marked early believers and martyrs who died for the faith, and the exact principle that Jesus taught in The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25).

To teach His listeners a lesson about “the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus used the analogy of ten bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom and the traditional wedding feast that followed. Five of the virgins were wise, bringing oil for their ceremonial lamps or torches. The other five were foolish, bringing no oil. As the bridegroom delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. At midnight, there was a cry that the bridegroom was coming and all were to come out to meet him. They all rose to trim their lamps, but only the five wise bridesmaids were able to light theirs. Only “those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.” Though the five foolish bridesmaids still knocked, “Lord, lord, open to us,” the bridegroom answered, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.”

If we are not fully ready to meet Jesus face to face today, then something is lacking in our lamps. Something of the world still has a hold on us. We may not even have the “oil” of a sincere faith. We do well to observe that the foolish bridesmaids had an “appearance” of being in the wedding party, dressing accordingly and carrying lamps. But they learned tragically that the oil wasn’t something they could attain vicariously through others (the wise bridesmaids).

Imagine how many foolish bridesmaids today are dressed for the party—adorned in religious activity, attending church services, singing the songs, and having all of the Sunday School answers, but are lacking a REAL relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. We might’ve grown up in a Christian home, or attended “churchy” programs all throughout our childhood, but we can never be ready to meet Jesus “vicariously” through the faith of our parents, grandparents, or others. Our faith in Jesus must become “our own” faith, by allowing this Bridegroom of heaven to own us. We can only be ready for the kingdom of heaven by having oil in our lamp, or in other words, a genuine relationship with the King of this kingdom.

Followers of Jesus are to have a “kingdom” perspective and spiritual watchfulness, living our lives with the hope of heaven and a readiness to lay down our lives until we get there. And when it’s time to go, may nothing of this present age rival Jesus by having a hold on us. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Jesus, we live for your kingdom in the here and now and trust you to keep our hearts always prepared for your return and our glorious triumph from this world to the next. In your name we pray, Amen.

Questions for personal reflection or group discussion:

1. When was a time you were late to an important event, and why were you delayed?
2. How did the bridegroom respond when some virgins wanted to come to the wedding late? (Matthew 25:12) With what warning did Jesus conclude this parable? Why? (v.13)
3. What responsibility does each Christian have before God? Why is continual preparation for Christ’s return better than “last minute cramming”?
4. Why do we tend to think (and act like) we have all the time in the world to get ready for Christ’s return? What does this passage say about the need for individual readiness?
5. What spiritual preparation do you need to make in order to “keep watch”? How can you change your mindset this week to reflect your belief in the imminent return of Christ?

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