While the Bridegroom Tarries

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For 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, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. --Matthew 25:1-13

     The Bible gives us a description of what will happen at Christ's return. The Church (all born-again Christians) will be united with him in heaven with a marriage-like ceremony.

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." Revelation 19:6-9

     This has become one of my favorite parables that Jesus told. I have begun reading R.B. Kuiper sermons in his book entitled While the Bridegroom Tarries, taken from Matthew 25:5. I've only read two so far, but the theme of this sermon collection hangs on the Church awaiting its Savior, the Bride awaiting the Bridegroom. (If you're interested, you can find the book on my virtual bookshelf on the front page of the blog).

     I've yet to be married and God willing a day will come here on earth that the Lord will grant me a wife. I must say I've been waiting eagerly for awhile, but that doesn't mean since the day has yet to draw near I should look to the world for an unequally yolked wife--nor should I be hard-hearted or bitter. And so it is with myself and my Bridegroom--I mustn't look for another, nor be angry, nor call it off. I'm on his terms, not mine. You see in the parable there were 10 virgins: 5 were truly prepared and 5 were not, but all became weary.

     The 5 unprepared virgins present those who are outside of the family of God. Non-Christians do not see Christ's return as of any importance: materialism, immorality, and inactiveness have blinded them. They eat, drink, and be merry but fail to recognize that their very life will be demanded from them, and they will not be ready. They will come to the shut door and cry out for the bridegroom to open, but he shall reply those dreadful words: I don't know you. What a horrifying phrase, to come to the God of the universe who created you, only for Him to say Depart from me, I never knew you. Jesus will return, and will bring salvation and a marriage ceremony for his bride, but a casting away of the foreigners whom he never knew. Where do you stand? It is not a matter of whether or not you know God, but does He know you? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. If you wait until He returns it will then be too late. What another scary thought: people standing before the God of the universe, attempting to justify their life only to do so in vain. Their life consisted of living only for themselves, not prepared for what is to come after death. Are you ready?

     The well-prepared 5, even though they were prepared with bringing extra oil, became weary right along the others. I am reminded of Peter, James, and John in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-36). Jesus told them to keep watch with him while he went to pray, yet they fell asleep on him--twice. Christians, even though we are prepared for eternity, we sinfully forget that we await our arrival of a better home (Hebrews 11:16). Like the rest of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life still tempt us to draw our eyes on the physical realm and its contents. The world doubts and ignores the return of Christ (2 Peter 3:1-7), so of course they must gather what they can to fill that gap of emptiness. But believers we have a bridegroom who will come and gather us into perfect communion with the Most High. So even though these 5 prepared virgins fell asleep, they were still prepared for His coming.

Christians, do not lose heart, "For 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;'" (Hebrews 10:37). Keep your eyes on Jesus, and spread the news of the bridegroom's coming and what preparations they must make--before it's too late.