At some homes wood is being piled in preparation of the winter ahead. How I wish it was for my home.  I have always loved a wood stove!  At one of our homes we had one and, if I pause, I can still see David chopping wood outside. A great memory!

To prepare is to be wise. Jesus once told a parable (story) about ten young bridesmaids who were to be part of a wedding celebration.  They were waiting for a procession to the final celebratory banquet to begin.  This procession began when the bridegroom arrived.  One never knew when the bridegroom would arrive.  To prepare for the possible wait, five of the women had brought extra oil for their lanterns. Five of them had not.  The bridegroom was a ‘long time in coming’ and the ten became drowsy, falling asleep (Matthew 25:5). At midnight they were startled from their sleep with the announcement that the bridegroom was arriving, and the wedding processional would move forward to the banquet. Only the five, who had prepared by bringing extra oil, could join, leading the procession.  The other five ran off quickly to get more oil, but sadly, by the time they returned, the procession was over.  They arrived, in all their beautiful attire, lanterns blazing, to find the banquet had begun and the door to enter was locked.  Not to prepare is to be foolish.

Jesus tells these stories for the good of the listener and today we are the listener. Jesus is speaking about the day of his return. In John’s vision, while on a prison island, he writes, “Look he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him” (Revelation 1:7). Jesus, in the Bible is referred to as the bridegroom, and those who follow him, are the bride.  We are to be prepared for his coming.  To prepare is to be wise.

Many years ago, when I was a Brownie (Scouting movement), we learned the motto “Be prepared.”  The Brownie was to be prepared to ‘do something’, and it was to ‘lend a helping hand’.  Jesus is not telling us that in our preparedness for Jesus’ coming we should ‘do something.’  The kingdom that comes through Jesus begins with ‘being someone’ and out of that we ‘do something’.  There are many who miss the point thinking that ‘if I live a good life’ that will be enough.  If I give to others, use my talents for others, even show up at church, this ‘doing’ will please God. Jesus himself said that on the day of his return many will say, “Didn’t we do this, and this, and this, for you” and he will respond saying, “I never knew you.” 

Jesus came to help us to ‘be.’ He came that we might “live, and move, and have our being” in him (Acts 17:28). We belong to the eternal God, as dearly loved and created.  Known by him, he desires foremost that we would know him. This comes by believing in who he is and being united to him in faith. This journey of faith helps us grow in our knowledge of him and in this we are prepared for his return. Paul reminds us that “if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Jesus prepares us so that we can be prepared for his return.

To prepare for a wood stove, through the winter, requires a lot of energy when it comes to chopping, drying, and stacking wood.  To prepare for the coming of Jesus is quite a contrast to this. To prepare for Jesus is to simply believe and live daily a life of joyful response for all he has done for us.

The following is one of the first choruses I learned when I came to be part of The Salvation Army. May Jesus prepare us to live for him today. This is the wise and fulfilling way to live as we prepare for his return.

858: I'm Living My Life For Jesus

I'm living my life for Jesus,
His love and grace I've seen;
And now that I live for Jesus
Life has a newfound theme.
My life has a newfound intention,
I follow a purposeful aim,
And life has a newfound dimension,
I witness that I'm born again.
I'm living my life for Jesus,
His love and grace I've seen;
And now that I live for Jesus
Life has a newfound theme.

Father in heaven, the hope of my eternal home with you offers visions of a goodness and glory that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has ever imagined, but yet I was made for.  Give me a faith-filled imagination that finds ways to loop the hope of heaven back into today, living more of your life here and now” AMEN

(Seeking God’s Face).

With care and in prayer,