Daily Lesson for December 21, 2017

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 25 verses 1 through 13:

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” 12But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Here is a question for your consideration: why, if the bridegroom is near, did the bridesmaids with the extra oil for their lamps not share it with those without?  

The answer: Because he was not near. 

Oh yes; there was lots of loud shouting about his imminent arrival. Someone had seen him just on the edge of town and the like. 

But the wise know what the bridegroom said, “No one knows the hour or the day.”  No one. 

Somebody right now is writing a book to tell us all how the end of the world is coming soon and very soon: The Russian Bear is on the rise. There is some oligarch just being groomed to step into power. He is the anti-Christ.  Gas prices are the sign. Trump is the sign. Jerusalem being recognized as the capital of Israel is the sign. Did we know about those blood moons?

But the wise in the parable say, “No!”

Nobody knows the day nor the time. Nobody.

Don’t believe the shouts about the bridegroom’s coming.  Do not concern yourself with things too great.  Do not add borrow tomorrow’s troubles today. Do not add anxiety into your life. Rise. Eat. Study. Pray. Love your neighbor. Rest. Keep your lamps trimmed and burning — and not burning out.  When the bridegroom comes everyone will know.  Until then, nobody does.