[Jesus said] Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13
Keep Watch
Jesus told stories called parables to teach important spiritual truths. At the beginning of Matthew chapter 25, he told a story about ten bridesmaids waiting for the start of the wedding banquet. The five wise ones brought extra oil for their lamps. They were thinking ahead. The five foolish, unprepared ones did not. They were living for the moment and were unprepared for the future, so their lamps burnt out. Five were ready when the banquet started, and the other five were not, so they missed out on the wedding celebration. The moral of the story is simple: “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
In the Bible, heaven is pictured as a wedding banquet—the best party you’ve ever been to! A party you don’t want to miss! Why do some miss out? The one who is ready and waiting to meet Jesus at this life’s end, or when he returns, is simply the one who believes in him and his complete work of salvation.
Sadly, the faith of some may grow dim and burn out. It’s easy to live for the moment and put off the reality of the future. Instead, Jesus teaches us to think ahead. Be ready now and be ready when he returns or calls us out of this world. But how are we ready? Where can we find oil for our lamps? When we feel like we’re running on fumes, where do we find gas for our tanks?
The Lord provides all we need to grant faith and to keep it burning bright. To keep watch for Jesus means to keep watching Jesus. Fix your faith and attention on him every day, trusting that he alone is your hope and salvation. Watch out for things that steal your heart away from him. Hear his words recorded in the Bible. There you find his promises of forgiveness and unconditional love. This supplies all we need. It refreshes us. It renews us. It keeps us ready and eagerly waiting to meet our Savior face to face and spend an eternity with him at the best party ever!
Prayer:
Lord, give me wisdom and patience that looks forward to the awesome day you return or call me home to heaven. Amen
