Now Is the Time to Get Ready and Prepare Ourselves

I find myself always so busy and always preparing for something. I see people running to and fro preparing- always preparing for something. Preparing for the fun weekend, preparing for work, for the arrival of a new baby, preparing a new home or a meal for company. There is always something to prepare for, events, agendas and vacations…so busy.. the world is so busy preparing.

However, do we sometimes become so consumed with worldly preparation that we loose the perspective for the necessity of preparing for the eternal exist from this world to the next? I know I do, there are times I need to stop and make time for the one thing so precious, my time with the Lord.

Being prepared for something gives us a feeling of being ready and an endurance to keep going, as we watch and wait with expectation. I would like to look at a well known parable of the 10 virgins as they were preparing for the bridegroom in Matthew 25. They were making themselves ready- well, some of them were.

Matthew 25: 1-9 Then shall the Kingdom of heaven be likened unto 10 virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2)And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3)They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6)And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7)Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8)And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9)But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves….

What I am wanting to look at here are the words wise and foolish; we that live here on this earth have an opportunity to choose wisely or foolishly on an every day scale. The word wise here in the Strong's is Phromiros-which means "single minded"-meaning one life is being lived-God's and therefore this believer, is full of light. The word "wise" is from the root word phren-which means "to rein in or curb the emotions." These were wise because they allowed God to continually rein in their self-life which allowed them to control themselves, which then allowed the Spirit of God(the oil) to come forth and produce fruit in their lives. This is something we experience when we follow God's plan rather than my own.

The word foolish in Strong's means double-minded-meaning there are two lives lived-God's and ours; therefore, these believers were full of darkness because "self" is ruling in their soul which enables them to be double-minded which makes it hard to be an overcomer in situations. This brings a sense of confusion and despair; there is an uneasiness feel, a sense of inadequacy. This person did not maintain an intimate relationship with the Lord, the light of God's Spirit has been blocked. This person has walked in what was best for "them", mostly concerned about themselves in most situations, rather than following after the voice of God and crucifying the flesh.

When the bridegroom came, some were ready and some were not. Some had been seeking God and allowing him to flow through them, growing in their spirit and they were prepared and ready. The others were living for themselves, never really curbing their attitudes or tempers; these were not spending quality time with the Lord and allowing their spirit to grow and were caught unaware and wanted to borrow the character and spiritual growth from others-but that is not allowed. Those who have paid the price and denied their self and waited on the Lord patiently in trials and have gone through the fire and have remained true, will arise. No one can do that for you and no one can purchase that for you. We all want someone else to pay our price, but it wont work. Going to church and thinking the pastor can pay your price, isn't going to work. When the time comes, each and every one of us will stand before the Lord and give account for ourselves and behavior.

It says later the five foolish virgins came and said, Lord, Lord, open the door. But He answered them saying, I know you not. (Matthew 25:12)

The greek word used here for "Know" is oida and in the Strong's it means to "know intimately", to see or perceive." The Lord was saying to the five foolish, I don't know you intimately; we don't have a close relationship. If we did, you would have obeyed my voice in your life when I spoke to you directly. You were not a partaker or sharer of My life- My Power or My love. There was little or no fellowship between us. The five foolish were not acquainted with His character, His person or His attributes.

Oil in scripture stands for the Holy Spirit who had been quenched in the "foolish" virgins hearts. They had no oil to refill their lamps and were unable to go out and meet the Lord. Extra Oil means-spiritual preparation. Because they had no preparation, no intimate relationship -there was nothing to draw on and we cannot draw on someone else's oil or preparedness. An extra oil supply means we are spiritually prepared.

The extra portion of oil comes from a place called your "Gethsemane". This was the place that Jesus purchased our redemption, a place where Christ submitted it ALL to His Father, it's a place of crushing, a place of surrender, and a place of emptying so one can be filled with Christ's oil and His Spirit and NO ONE can purchase that for you. The oil is purchased but not with money just like our redemption was purchased just not with money.

Everything that happens in our lives, is preparing us for our departure. Life experience is not by chance, it is getting us ready, getting our hearts ready to be more willing and prepared to meet the Lord. The Lord allows us to experience circumstances in this life, so we can learn how to handle uncomfortable places, we are growing and preparing…. Now is the time to go before the Lord and allow Him to walk you through your "Gethsemane", to give it All to the Lord. Choose wisely and stay faithful. We want to have that inward relationship that we will need to help us get to the place where one day the Lord will say… "Well done thy good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord….

God is calling; He is preparing His people with every day life situations. Stay alert, be ready and heed the call….