The Bridegroom Approaches - Prepare!

Last Sunday of the Church Year - November 20, 2005

Matthew 25:1-13

Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is important to be prepared for the things that take place in life. Our school-aged children prepare for tests, whether in grade school, middle school, high school or college. Adults prepare too. The women in our lives have been laughing this past week at their husbands, at least if they are deer hunting husbands. Why? Because of all the preparations for deer camp. Too bad most of those men aren’t here today.

Women, sometimes we men laugh at you too, for all the preparations you make just to go away for a couple days - how many suitcases do you really need? And do you have to begin packing a month before you leave?

We know that we must prepare for our later life, for retirement, so that we have enough money upon which to live. I have even prepared a will for when I die, that those whom I leave behind do not have to deal with court and lawyers.

We know to be prepared for the eventualities of this life, and we take great measures to be prepared. While I make fun of the packing issue, a long trip means much preparation. If you drive, you need to plan a route. You need to make motel or campground reservations ahead of time along that route. And you need to have planned out the stay at the ultimate destination. Besides this preparation, there needs to be months of monetary saving beforehand to be properly prepared for all the expenditures. Proper clothing for the climate and time of year for the trip also needs to be considered in preparation and packing.

As we consider the preparations we make in this life, we need to consider that some planning must take place as we look forward to the approach of the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom, Christ, will return for His bride, the church. It is true that we do not know when this will take place, are we prepared for that return? Are you ready for that day?

Maybe you are asking, How can we prepare for that? What can we do to be ready for Christ's return, so that when the Lord comes we can be ushered into the wedding feast?

Some people would like to believe that belonging to church is enough, that the associations with the church will assure them of their place in heaven. Are you in that group? Unfortunately, it isn't that easy. God will look at each of you individually and judge you according to His terms. A name on a church roster isn’t going to cut it.

In fact, it isn't even the fact that we call ourselves Christians that we are saved. There are many who call themselves Christian because of the hope that they will be benefitted from that association, but do not have the key ingredient that goes along with that - they do not have faith, they do not trust Christ as the forgiveness of their sins.

Last week we learned that we are saved by grace alone as a gift from a loving God. We learned that our good works do not help us any, but come forth out of our faith, by God’s work in us, they are a fruit of the faith dwelling in us.

There are some people who feel that because other members of their family have an active faith, that they will sort of ride along on their coattails, that they’ll get into heaven because Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and Dad are going. I'm saddened that on the last day, when Christ does return, they will be sorely disappointed to find themselves outside the door - where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Along with these other foolish assumptions is another. You are foolish if you think that you can wait till later in your life to be a Christian. I have heard too many people foolishly use the excuse, "I am going to live my life for today, and when I get older I'll worry about religion, I don’t have time for that right now."

The only answer I can give to this thinking is what God Himself said to the rich man who was too busy preparing for his life on earth, "Fool, today your life is required of you."

When will Christ return? A Bears fan friend of mine joked that Christ will return when the Packers win another game this season. Well, it’s been a week since the Packer’s win last week, and while I was ready, nothing happened.

Your life could be required of you as you leave the church today and head for home. You know, there are many who die on our highways, in fact, most car accidents take place within a 3 mile radius of a person's home.

In the book of Hebrews we read, "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes the judgement." Foolishly we may all think at times, that we have time to prepare, that maybe if we’re good enough God will let us make a last ditch appeal when we die.

Hey, there isn't any time. Today may be all that is left; you must each be prepared today in the eventuality that today may be the end.

We prepare for winter by making sure that we have an ample supply of fuel for our furnace - we think ahead in other regards and are prepared. Let us get wise and also prepare wisely for Christ our bridegroom's return.

You know how much time and effort goes into planning a wedding. Our effort and time in preparation to meet the Bridegroom must be equal to that, if not greater, for our preparation is for eternity. Divorce from this bridegroom results in eternal damnation - separation from God is literally hell, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

All ten virgins in our text were able to sleep in their waiting for the bridegroom. The foolish virgins slept unprepared, in a disregard for vigilance. On the other hand, the wise virgins slept a slumber of security, knowing that they were prepared. This is that peace which passes all understanding, a wonderful gift of God, a fruit of faith.

Are you prepared? Are you ready for the bridegroom's approach? Do you have the peace that the wise virgins had? The slumber of the wise was brought on because they were prepared, they had an ample supply of oil, and they slept content that when the bridegroom arrived, they had only to trim their lamps.

You, likewise, have an ample supply of oil. The oil is the key to the parable. The supply of oil is the supply of faith, and that supply is provided only by Christ.

Faith is equivalent with oil in our parable. The foolish virgins wanted their sisters to share their oil, just the same as some people expect to be saved because of the faith of other family members. Each however, will be judged according to their own faith - the oil in your own lamp.

Nor at the last day, will anybody be able to run out and get oil. That is like those who on the last day will plead with God, "Lord, I always intended to get religious, but there was so much of life to live first - you came too soon."

Whenever the time comes, whether it is Christ's 2nd Advent, or just our time to die, that is all - we will not get a second chance. Our heavenly righteous judge will pronounce judgement upon us then and there, not upon our best intentions or what could have been. Either we will have an ample supply of oil or we will not.

Here is the key, Christ has prepared for His own. Only in and through Christ are you adequately prepared for His return. You are made ready in the reception of the forgiveness of sins Christ Himself earned for you.

Furthermore, wise preparation is possible only through Christ. For, it is only in Christ that God has given you the gift of your faith. You are prepared and your lamps are kept trimmed as your faith is nurtured. Yes, faith needs to be nurtured, fed and refreshed. Knowing this, God has provided the means that accomplish this very task.

Interestingly, God's gracious means of providing faith have come to be called in our Lutheran Church, His "Means of Grace." The means of God’s gifting to us of forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith are none other than His precious life-giving Word and His Sacraments.

God's Word assures you again and again that you are forgiven. Your sinfulness and mine, which is all too evident to us, has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. We hear God’s gracious voice speak to us in the liturgy of our worship, through His mouthpiece, saying, "I forgive your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

At these words, in the name of Father, and of the Son, and Holy Ghost, we are reminded of our baptism. It was these words and water which were used to make us part of the family of God. In remembering our baptism, we are made aware again of the forgiveness given to us in that gracious adoption ceremony.

Being reminded of our baptism, we are comforted that we have been cleansed of our sins and given the white robe of righteousness and our new garment, as sign of our adoption. Our baptism then, continually prepares us for Christ’s return.

In the Lord's Supper, we are fed the Body and Blood of Christ which nourishes our faith and gives unto us again, the assurance of our forgiveness. Although this banquet feast is only a foretaste of the wedding feast to come, we are still united to Christ. Being united to Christ, we join will all the saints in heaven in praising God for His marvelous gifts which prepare us for Christ’s return.

These are the means by which you are prepared for the Bridegroom’s return. He keeps your lamps trimmed with oil that you are ready when He comes to take His own to be with Him in His kingdom.

The bridegroom approaches - no man knows the day or the hour. Because Christ Himself makes us ready, you may slumber at night in peace, a peace which passes all understanding, because you know that you are made ready His return. By God’s grace, on that day you will go in with the Bridegroom unto the wedding feast. Only after your entrance will the door be closed. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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