Faith and a flashlight...

"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." - Matthew 25:1-13

When Christ comes He shall find His people waiting. There will be others along the way waiting as well. For Christ tells us that the Kingdom will contain two types of people: foolish and wise. Faithful and faithless. This is an important distinction. One we rarely seek when Christ tells a parable. We must seek not only the Christ character, but understand where faith is placed in the story. The Kingdom of God is not one taken by force but it is based solely on trust in the King.

One set of maidens have brought their lamps. They have brought their oil for the lamps. In other words they brought their flashlights with fresh batteries. They have been joyously waiting for the Bridegroom to come for the feast. For the party. They know they need the light in order to make sure they are not deceived. They also know that the Bridegroom will see them coming, knowing who are His by how they have been waiting in faith.

The other set of maidens have their lamps/flashlights but the batteries are leftover from the camping trip back in 1985. The acid has leaked out and they may have a little juice for about thirty seconds. Upon hearing the announcement of the coming King, they turn to those who are among them and beg for them to share their batteries, not realizing that neither will have anything if they do that. Not knowing that they cannot rely on the faith of others to get them through. They can't expect they will be okay when the time comes because of someone else.

It is the same with us. Our entry into the marriage feast of the Lamb is not based on our heritage. Just because you were baptized and grew up in the church won't help you. Just because your father was a pastor won't help. Just because you surround yourself with Christians and go about the routine won't help you either. When the time comes, faith is there or not. You cannot buy it or share it. It is not something you can wait on. It exists or it does not. It is given or not.

Faith in the Bridegroom, in who He is, in knowing that He would be a merciful One and forgive them for their lack of proper attire or equipment is all there is for us. Instead of worrying about how we look or the reception we give Him, we should have enough faith that He would find us even in the darkness. That He, being the Light of the World, would take us along by the reflection of His countenance. By the beacon that is the cross that shines forth the Way. So that there will be no need to knock on the door and beg. He will gather us to Himself as long as our trust is in Him alone.

TW