...and it was shut.

And there were ten this night of nights. The stirring from social and mainstream media, and everywhere people went, yes, they were talking. All were anticipating the event. I imagine even if you were in the desert with your head buried in the sand, someone would have found you to tell you! 

“And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him (Matthew 25: 6 KJV).’”

“…and the door was shut (Matthew 25:10 KJV).”

This chapter from the gospel of Matthew highlights two big stories, one of the virgins, and secondly, the servants given talents or money. In this journal entry, we’ll do a quick note that sprung up in the twilight of the morning before the birds started their song.

Parables are great tools to convey messages. I can only imagine the depths of the discussions that churned around the disciples and the followers that followed Jesus during his earthly ministry. Each story can tackle issues that are relevant to individuals in whatever stage of life they are facing. The power of the spoken word is incredible and I am only beginning to understand its applicability. 

There were ten virgins one night that got excited about the bridegroom coming, they had grabbed their lamps, and ran to a spot where the bridegroom was expected to crossover. They tarried in that spot until the bridegroom crossed their paths, but 5 were wise and 5 were fools. The wise not only grabbed the lamps that had been provisioned with fuel, but they grabbed additional supplies just in case… The fools only grabbed the provisioned lamps, went to the appointed place, and while things dragged on their lamps burned through the fuel they had. Steadily the oil depleted even though they had trimmed their lamps to a minimal burn. Without any further provisions, they left to find fuel and missed the great moment of being added to the feast of the Lamb.

We are gifted with the present, that is what we have. We don’t have yesterday as it is gone. We have the promise of tomorrow, but that is a day away. What we have is the right here and now because some times tomorrow tarries. When those times come, we are to do our best to cultivate the earth, subdue it, and make it our own. We abide to provide for the day and then to save for a rainy day. That rainy day is coming when in a moment, life changes. 

The Ark was loaded, stocked, and it was shut…

“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in (Genesis 7:16 KJV).”

Certain times, with the Lord, we are required to prepare. Certain times, we are called to still and pause. Noah knew this first hand and half of the virgins knew too. They all had a time to prepare, invoke faith, and follow the direction they had received. Noah and the wise virgins looked forward to a tomorrow, yet they lived in the day, building, stock-piling, and then showing up prepared. The earth dwellers and 5 foolish virgins did not listen to the warnings by preparing for the rainy day. Noah and the wise virgins went to the feast of the Lamb. The earth dwellers and  foolish virgins did not. They wept and were left outside the doors that had been shut by the Lord.

There is so much more to this ensemble, but I’ll pause here for now. Heed the times. Prep where you can. Store rations (soup cans/MREs/water), money (gold/silver/dollars), and keep the gas tanks full. Do it in faith. As Noah and the 5 wise virgins did, they invested their faith with actions. Now is the time to gather as best you can even if its 1 or 2 or 5 pieces of food, silver, etc… its those actions that God blesses and builds upon. Don’t just use what was prepped by others like the earth dwellers and the 5 foolish virgins.

Godspeed, The Journeyman

PS: Whatever days are ahead prepare as best you can. Don’t fear but have a contingency. John 14: 27 reminds us of His Peace. This is not the end of all time, but an ending to a time so a new time can be forged. A new day awaits!