Lessons from the Gospels – The Wedding, Part 3
In my blog “The Wedding, Part 1” we discussed people who refused to go to the banquet when called, citing all sorts of what seem to us to be ridiculous excuses, until we consider some of the things that keep us from spending time with Jesus. In The Wedding, Part 2, we discussed how it can be that people who do show up are not properly “dressed” for the event.
But just because people showed up doesn't mean they were actually ready for the banquet.
Today, we let’s look at what can happen, when you think you can just “pop in” for a wedding.
1. Pre-ceremony drama
I have never understood long engagements. Personally, I went 3 months between engagement and wedding. Just long enough to find a dress and location.
However, the long engagement was a practical arrangement in Biblical times. As I understand it, the tradition was to have the engagement and then for the groom to go build a room in his father’s home or otherwise make housing and other arrangements and then come back for the bride and the wedding.
This is the more accurate view of the wedding of the Bride of Christ (the church) and Christ Jesus. He came to this earth, paid the bride price for us in His death, was resurrected to go back to the Father and prepare a place for us. Now we wait for His return.
Waiting can be tough – especially when you don’t know how long you will be waiting. That’s what it was like in Bible times.
Today, we, the called and chosen, must “occupy” until He comes, as we find in the Parable of the Money Usage found in Luke 19:1`1-27. We are given jobs to do now while we wait. Just like in a modern wedding you might be asked to help with picking a dress or a venue, creating invitations, doing a pre-wedding photo shoot with the bride, etc., Jesus has called us to be helpful in preparing ourselves and others for the marriage of the Bride.
Revelation 19:7 [KJV] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
It’s easier to be ever-vigilant and on our toes when the engagement is new – when we are in our “first love” phase. But we can get “weary in well doing” if we are not careful. [See Galatians 6:9 and 2 Thessalonians 3:13]
Let’s consider the parable of the 10 virgins. You can read it in Matthew 25:1-13. Like us, all 10 were waiting for Jesus (the Bridegroom) to return. They all had oil. But half of them knew the wait might be long and acted accordingly, by bringing more oil that what their lamps could hold at that time.
We, too, should never think we have enough time with Jesus, with study, with prayer, with learning, with using our talents and so forth. It could be a long wait. What if you live to be 100? What if your trial lasts longer than expected? What if you are asked to do or give more.
We must build up our stores of oil by learning and growing and serving and seeking to draw closer to Him. That is how I see the oil in the lamp being generated.
They all slept. Maybe this means all had times of complacency. Or simply that a long time of rest, free of trials, had come. Either way, as time passed, oil burned and supplies dwindled.
Then, suddenly the time was right, and the groom showed up. Then there was no time to run and clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the sick and so forth. [Matthew 25:31-46]
Sweet sisters, the time we have to wait between the engagement and the wedding ceremony could be very long. Around 2000 years have already passed. And you or I may have 5 more years or 25. We don’t know.
We must then, “walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” [Eph 5:15-16 NKJV]
Whatever life throws at, we must focus on our lamps and stores of oil, because the wait may be long.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments or email me at Nancy@dyamicchristianministries.org