The Long Trip
Have you ever started on a trip without stopping to get gas?
“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. - Matthew 25:1-13
What comes to mind when I read this story is taking a trip and running low on gas.
I think I have enough to get where I need to go, but then I find myself stuck in traffic and I curse myself for being so hasty.
Why didn't I get gas when I could?
It's not like I can roll down the window and ask my fellow travelers to share their gas with me. That doesn't work in traffic. No. When the needle drops to E and the light goes on, I know I have to do something.
I need to leave the highway and get gas.
In the parable, it is the oil that runs low, and the ones who failed to plan ahead have to leave and get more.
While they are gone, the bridegroom comes.
Jesus is telling us that if we are not ready, we can miss an opportunity, and that opportunity may pass, leaving us outside and alone.
The secret to success here is to plan for a long trip, a long wait, an extended stay. When we do that, we have a greater chance of being ready longer.
It is like being on vacation and not having packed enough clean clothes, assuming we will be able to have the dirty ones laundered. Then we find there is no laundry where we are.
Being prepared is a Boy Scout motto, and we may take it with a grain of salt, thinking it a childhood lesson.
But Jesus shows us we are all children at heart. And we need a lesson or two now and then to get us back on track.
Of course, if I run out of gas on the highway, chances are I will never leave without filling up again.
More to come...