SolLuna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
12/16
Be Watchful
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
When I had to learn memory verses as a child, “Jesus wept” was a wonderful standby. That was simple and was only two words to remember.
Here is another, more to the point: As a Boy Scout, our motto was as easy, “Be prepared.”
The Marines have “Semper Fidelis”
We do not know the day when the Lord will come and settle all accounts. But He demands that we live in a state of watchful expectation rather than fanciful speculation. We are to be ever looking unto Jesus. We are to be ever watchful, ever faithful, and ever ready for His return.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith …” (Hebrews 12:2)
That is the great challenge of our lives. It is with seeking wonder and faithful awareness that we stand on tiptoe as watchmen in the night.
His coming, whenever it will be and however, he will manifest himself, will be a joyous and awesome occasion and our privilege is to be at a state of present readiness. It will be a grand party, like a wedding feast.
Every challenge in our lives comes down to this great challenge: To be found faithful when He come again.
But that future hope must not obscure the present reality that He is here now, present with us and that our call to readiness involves listening for His voice and observing what He is doing in our midst.
It summons us to be ready for His call in every life situation and prepared to act upon His command at any moment.
Let us be watchful.
Let us be faithful.
Let us be expectant.
Let us be hopeful.
Let us be standing on our tiptoes.
Maranatha!
