Keep watch!

^{by Phoebe}

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:13

There had been several times when members of our village church came to our home without advance notice. They had come to check if we are doing okay. They had come to share with us about a family problem that they are facing. They also had come to help clear up our garden. An auntie came by to find her missing reading glasses. Another auntie came with her cooking equipment to prepare food for a short term missions team.

They will usually turn up in the mornings, especially on those mornings when we chose to sleep in a little bit more due to a tiring previous day. When we hear them arriving, we would scramble to change out of our sleep clothes when they arrive so that we are ready to receive them into our house. We always feel bad for not being as ready as we would like.

The sense of readiness is liken to that in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), which is part of Jesus’ warning for His disciples to keep watch for the coming of the Lord, for He will come at a time when it is least expected (Matthew 24:36-44). There were five wise virgins who were ready to receive the bridegroom with oil in their lamps. On the other hand, there were five foolish virgins who were unprepared and even fell asleep because the bridegroom took a long time to arrive. When the bridegroom finally arrived, they had to rush to buy oil for their lamps. Unfortunately when they returned, the bridegroom rejected them.

As I reflect on this parable, I ask myself if I am ready to receive my Lord Jesus Christ when He returns again. If I am not ready to receive unexpected guests into my house, how ready am I to receive my Lord when he says that He will arrive at unexpected time? Will I be like the foolish virgins who will scramble and be at a loss when He arrives? Or will I be wise like the other virgins, prepared to receive Him because I have been keeping watch and anticipating His arrival?