I’ve been learning a lot about preparation this week. As I sit here writing this, my house has gone without power for the last three days. I can see my breath at my kitchen table. The lights are out and the pipes are frozen. Never before have I slept in a beanie!
Even still, this change in my circumstances has made a good teacher.
As preparation for this winter storm, many Nashvillians went to grocery stores to stock up on soup, toilet paper, and all the essentials. With all that preparation, I was reminded of a parable that Jesus shared in the gospels.
When Delays Reveal Readiness
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a story of ten young women, anxiously awaiting a bridegroom’s arrival. They each had their lamps prepared for the wedding, but only five of the women had thought to buy oil.
What good is a lamp without its oil?
Therefore, only five of the women were truly prepared—and the bridegroom took longer than expected.
When everything goes according to plan, we rarely need the extra provisions. We do not need the extra toilet paper, the money stored away in “emergency funds”, or the oil to fill up our lamps. But when schedules get muddled, when plans are delayed, or when circumstances catch us off guard, preparation is often what can make the difference.
It’s in those seasons of delay that preparation truly matters.
A Personal Reflection
In light of this winter storm, I want to ask you something important:
Are you, as a believer, truly prepared for the return of Christ?
Is this something that you consider on a regular basis, or have you actually grown lax in your mindset and posture? Have you been too focused on the things of this world? Have you taken your eyes off the Bridegroom? Or, said differently:
Is there oil in your lamp?
Don’t wait until the unexpected hits. Keep your lamp filled. Keep your oil ready. Prepare your heart for the coming of our Lord. After all:
It is He who speaks in the storm (Job 38:1).
Blessings,
