Matthew 25:6
Have you ever had an alarm go off in the middle of the night? Perhaps you were in a deep sleep and a smoke alarm went off, or maybe it was an alert on your phone. However it happened, it was something for which you were unprepared, something shocking that got your attention. Jesus said that His return will be like that. It will catch people off guard, much like a cry at midnight.
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins to illustrate the importance of being ready for His return. In Jewish culture, a wedding would begin at the bride’s house when the bridegroom arrived for the ceremony. Then a procession would follow as the bridegroom took the bride to his house for the completion of the festivities. When this went into the evening, lamps were needed for the procession. This is the imagery that Jesus uses here in the parable. Five virgins were ready and had oil in their lamps while five were not. When the bridegroom suddenly appeared at midnight, those who were ready could go with him in procession. Those who were not ready missed their opportunity to go to the wedding.
Are you ready for the midnight cry? Jesus said, “Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
Father, I praise You for the hope I have in Christ, who is coming again. It could be today, or it could be tomorrow. May I not be caught off guard, but be ready. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For more, read Matthew 25:1-13
