Day 27
The Day After
As a child I loved Christmas. The excitement would build from Thanksgiving until the big night when Santa would arrive. Rainbow Mattress Company had a bedroom showroom window. Santa would be seen sleeping in the bed. However, at sunset on Christmas Eve, Santa was gone! I could hardly wait till morning!
But as excited as I was for Christmas to arrive, the day after Christmas was a letdown. It was not that I had been disappointed with my gifts. I was blessed. But something was missing. All the presents were gone. The Christmas tree seemed to be empty, and the lights now seemed to be out of place. I am not being a downer here, but something was missing the day after Christmas.
In Matthew Jesus talks about a grand event that was soon to take place.
Matthew 25:1-13 (NLT) [Jesus said] “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
The grand event was a wedding. Jewish weddings were dependent on many factors as to their start time. Those invited had to be ready.
This parable is a prophecy regarding the second coming of Jesus. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Only Believers have the Holy Spirit. So, the bridesmaids who were prepared represent Believers who will go to be with Jesus when He returns. The foolish ones represent religious people but not true Believers. Religious but lost!
Like my feeling of emptiness the day after Christmas, something will definitely be missing the day after Jesus returns. If you do not have Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be missing from being with Jesus.
Romans 10:9-13 (NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Do not be left behind the day after Jesus returns.
As a child I loved Christmas. The excitement would build from Thanksgiving until the big night when Santa would arrive. Rainbow Mattress Company had a bedroom showroom window. Santa would be seen sleeping in the bed. However, at sunset on Christmas Eve, Santa was gone! I could hardly wait till morning!
But as excited as I was for Christmas to arrive, the day after Christmas was a letdown. It was not that I had been disappointed with my gifts. I was blessed. But something was missing. All the presents were gone. The Christmas tree seemed to be empty, and the lights now seemed to be out of place. I am not being a downer here, but something was missing the day after Christmas.
In Matthew Jesus talks about a grand event that was soon to take place.
Matthew 25:1-13 (NLT) [Jesus said] “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
The grand event was a wedding. Jewish weddings were dependent on many factors as to their start time. Those invited had to be ready.
This parable is a prophecy regarding the second coming of Jesus. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Only Believers have the Holy Spirit. So, the bridesmaids who were prepared represent Believers who will go to be with Jesus when He returns. The foolish ones represent religious people but not true Believers. Religious but lost!
Like my feeling of emptiness the day after Christmas, something will definitely be missing the day after Jesus returns. If you do not have Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be missing from being with Jesus.
Romans 10:9-13 (NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Do not be left behind the day after Jesus returns.
Posted in 40 Days - 2022