SESSION 6
Stay Prepared and Ready
Question 1:
When have you been caught unprepared?
THE POINT
Grow in Christ as you wait for His return.
THE PASSAGE
Matthew 25:1-13
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
When I was a teenager, I worked at a fast-food restaurant in a mall. The owner often left teenagers alone to run the store at night. The main thing he asked was for someone to always be near the cash register, which I faithfully did. After all, we knew the boss could stop by anytime unannounced.
One slow night I was working with two other teenagers who were in the back laughing hilariously. They called out for me to join them, but I persistently kept telling them no—and they persistently kept calling to me. Finally, I sheepishly left my post at the register and went in the back. Literally seconds later the boss came in. I quickly darted back to the front, but it was clear the boss was not happy.
I was not at my post, which meant I was not prepared for the boss’s arrival. The same can be true in our spiritual lives. We are to live our lives so that when Christ returns, we will be unashamed before him (1 John 2:28). In Matthew 25, Jesus used a parable to show us how to be prepared.
MATTHEW 25:1-5
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them;
4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps.
5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
The parable of the ten virgins is one of several parables Jesus used to describe what the kingdom of heaven will be like. The kingdom of heaven is the state of things under the reign of God. It is God’s current reign over the lives of redeemed people that will become fully realized in His ultimate reign over all the earth.
The cultural background of this parable concerns Jewish wedding customs of the first century. Before a couple was married, they went through a period of betrothal. They were not fully married yet, but they were viewed as husband and wife. After about a year of a couple’s binding betrothal, the groom went to the bride’s home to bring her to his home for a seven-day feast. The groom did not do this alone. He was accompanied by a wedding party that escorted the couple to the bridegroom’s home. In Jesus’ parable, the wedding party included “ten virgins.” The virgins are young women of marriageable age. Here, the word virgin is used not so much to highlight their virginity or lack of sexual experience but to highlight their relationship to the bride. These were the bridesmaids. It was a great honor not only to be invited to the wedding but also to be a part of the wedding party.
A central part of Jesus’ parable involves lamps. Part of the bridesmaids’ responsibility was to light the path for the processional. In that day, small clay lamps were used in homes. But this story involved an outdoor procession where clay lamps would not be useful. The lamps in view here likely were torches that consisted of a long pole with olive oil-drenched rags at the top. To keep them lit, one needed a good supply of oil. Since the wedding was typically an evening ceremony, people would know that you needed to bring extra oil for your lamp.
The bridesmaids in Jesus’ parable were divided into two groups, and which group they were in depended on their level of preparation. The level of their preparation classed them as either “wise” or “foolish.” The word rendered foolish means inattentive, thick-headed, and unthinking. The word was frequently used in the Book of Proverbs to describe many ungodly traits.
The foolish virgins truly seemed to want to go to the wedding celebration; however, they did not respect the groom enough to think about the necessary preparations involved. On the other hand, the wise virgins show what a life of faith should look like. They have the opposite mindset of foolish virgins in that they thought ahead with clarity. People who have true faith in Christ show respect to Jesus by living lives of faithful preparation.
Jesus told this parable in the context of His teaching about His second coming, so we can see that the bridegroom represents Christ. The wise virgins reflect true believers. The foolish virgins reflect those who may profess a belief in Jesus, but they have not prepared for the end of life by seeking a real relationship with Christ. All are “invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9), but only those who accept the invitation through faith and trust in Christ will be able to attend.
The “twist” in Jesus’ parable came when “the groom was delayed.” This may refer to the stretch of history between Christ’s first coming and His return. Christ wanted His followers to wait patiently for His return but also be prepared for the unexpected. You likely know people who squander their time and procrastinate on important matters. This was the plight of the foolish virgins. They should have taken extra oil so that no matter how long it took for the groom to come out, their lamps would not go out.
The delay of the bridegroom led to the bridesmaids falling asleep. We should not read the fact that “they all became drowsy and fell asleep” with a negative connation. Jesus included no condemnation of their sleeping. After all, it was nighttime. In fact, the wise virgins could rest because they were fully prepared. It’s the foolish virgins who should not have slept until they were fully prepared, with full flasks of oil.
Question 2:
What makes it difficult to be diligent as we wait for Christ’s return?
MATTHEW 25:6-9
6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’
7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’
“In the middle of the night,” most people are deep in sleep. Since the bridegroom came at such a late, unexpected hour, it reinforces the principle that Christ’s return will be a surprise.
All ten bridesmaids were called out to meet the groom. It was during this time that the foolish virgins realized they had not prepared adequately for this moment. Trimming the lamps involved cutting the charred ends of the rags; the ends of the lamp rags needed to be trimmed when they dried out. After they “trimmed their lamps,” they had to add more oil to keep them lit. Then the lamps had to be replenished by saturating the rags about every fifteen minutes.
The story is unfortunate because the foolish virgins knew they did not have extra oil. They had just not been concerned enough to take the necessary steps to avoid their predicament. No specific reason was given for their negligence, but their negligence in this matter was foolish. Now they had run out of time; it was too late to prepare. Nevertheless, the foolish virgins tried unsuccessfully to light their torches. The dry, ragged cloths would merely smolder as soon they were lit. You can sense the panic setting in as the foolish bridesmaids begin to beg the wise virgins, “ ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ” Understandably, the wise virgins had brought enough oil for their own lamps, but they had no oil to spare or share.
Being prepared to meet Christ when He returns is an individual matter. That preparedness cannot be transferred or shared. Parents do their best to prepare their kids for adulthood. They help them, provide for them, teach them, and encourage them—but they cannot do their living for them. We cannot make choices for them.
In the same way, we cannot depend on other people to make us right with God. We can learn from friends and family. We can be instructed by great spiritual teachers, but we must make our own decisions for our spiritual journey. Since salvation is a direct gift from God, the saved person cannot operate as savior to another person. Recipients of grace do not possess the ability to impart it to someone else no matter how much compassion they can muster up. Each person must prepare himself for the coming kingdom!
Lack of spiritual preparation has eternal consequences. People tend to put preparation for other things above their spiritual lives. Many prepare well for their careers, their finances, and their relationships, yet they ignore the importance of spiritual preparation. It’s the individual’s response to the call of Christ that will determine his or her eternal future. No one has a second chance after Christ comes back (or one dies). The time is now.
Question 3:
What do these verses teach us about the need for individual readiness?
MATTHEW 25:10-13
10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’
12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’
13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Everyone likes a happy ending to a story. Unfortunately, this parable has a sad ending. When the foolish bridesmaids left to go buy more oil, “the groom arrived.” The groom would not think of pausing his wedding processional to wait on them. He “and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet” without the foolish bridesmaids and shut the door. A closed door kept out the first-century version of wedding crashers.
The door remained shut even to these bridesmaids who were initially a part of the wedding party because their lack of preparation was a grave insult to the bride and groom. The virgins were most likely friends of the family who had been honored by the opportunity to serve in the wedding party. The problem was that the five foolish virgins did not return that honor. They had been invited to play a specific role in the festivities, but they chose not to do what was necessary to fulfill that role. This was more than just a faux pas; it was an affront and insult to the bridegroom.
The shut door pictures unbelievers being shut out of the kingdom of God. Many people assume that if you are not a horrible person, you’ll go to heaven when you die. Their assumption is that just about everybody will get into heaven, but the Bible is clear: those who do not know Christ will be shut out of God’s kingdom forever.
The foolish bridesmaids had gone to get the lamp oil they should’ve gotten earlier, but when they were ready to enter the wedding banquet, they found the door was shut. They realized they had erred, and they begged for entrance. This is reminiscent of words the apostle John spoke at the beginning of the Book of Revelation: “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen” (Rev. 1:7).
As the foolish virgins begged for entrance, they called out, “ ‘Master, master.’ ” This was a forced attempt to show intimacy that did not exist. Sometimes we use words to imply a depth of relationship that is not actually there. Christ made a similar point in His Sermon on the Mount, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
The foolish virgins were firmly and emphatically denied entrance. The master began his answer to the unprepared virgins by saying, “ ‘Truly I tell you.’ ” Whenever Christ used this phrase, it meant He was about to say something that was not up for negotiation. What was non-negotiable here was the reality of the groom’s relationship with these five foolish virgins: “ ‘I don’t know you!’ ”
Salvation is an intimate personal relationship with God. Knowing Christ is not merely knowing data and information about God. While learning about Christ is important, our salvation is ultimately about personally knowing God, entering into a relationship that is initiated by Christ and received by us through faith and trust in Him. The Christian life then is a lifelong journey of growing closer to the One we know through faith.
Question 4:
How does this parable add urgency to our spiritual walk?
Since the time of entrance had passed, the master would not be changing his mind for any reason. Once Christ returns (or we experience physical death), we will have no last-minute attempts to make things right with God. It will be too little, too late. “And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
Jesus summed up this parable with a closing exhortation that He had said earlier in Matthew 24:36 and 42: “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.” This is an imperative, something we must do! We are to stay continually awake, constantly keeping watch. Let’s walk with Him, fully prepared and watching for the return of the One who loves us. By being prepared and ready for His coming, we demonstrate our respect, love, and trust of the Master.
Question 5:
What are the consequences of not being prepared for Christ’s return?
ENGAGE
On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your own personal preparedness for the return of Jesus. For any rating lower than 10, brainstorm ways you could be more prepared.
12345678910
Totally UnpreparedConfidently Prepared
LIVE IT OUT
Realize. Ask God to reveal to you areas of your relationship with Him that need improvement. Make those areas a priority in your daily walk with the Lord.
Memorize. Memorize Matthew 25:13, “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.” Let that be a positive motivation for practical preparation.
Exercise. We can’t change the past but we can make plans to use our time properly. What non-essential habit or activity can you eliminate from your schedule and replace with an activity that prepares you for Christ’s return?
THIS PLACE CALLED HEAVEN
By Bill Patterson
Before my grandbaby learned to talk, she learned some signs. Claire often used the sign for “more” when she wanted additional milk. I would scoop her up in my arms and take her outside to see the ladybugs and flowers. No matter how long we stayed, when we came back inside, Claire always gave the signal for “more.”
Something inside the human heart yearns for more. God provided more than this earth can offer in heaven!
God did not tell us everything about heaven, but He has told us plenty. Consider what we can know:
Heaven is a literal place. Since some people would question the reality of heaven, God let John record the measurements of the walls of heaven. (Rev. 21:15-16.) The walls ran over 1,400 miles long, wide, and high. The ground level alone would be close to 2 million square miles. Clearly, heaven has plenty of room for all who receive Jesus.
Heaven is a prepared place. Shortly before Jesus died, He said, “‘In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also’” (John 14:2-3). Matthew 25:34 says God prepared heaven from the foundation of the world. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.
Heaven is a place of happy reunion with loved ones. Whom do you look forward to seeing in heaven? I look forward to talking with my grandparents in heaven. I miss my mother and father and look forward to being with them again.
How do we know we will see our loved ones who have died in the Lord? In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus indicated recognition in heaven. Also, “Paul anticipated being with the Thessalonians in Heaven, and it never occurred to him he wouldn’t know them. In fact, if we wouldn’t know our loved one, the ‘comfort’ of an afterlife reunion, taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, would be no comfort at all.” 1
Heaven is a place where God lives. Think how wonderful it feels when you are in a worship service where His presence seems so close. Revelation 21 describes our future home with God: “God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them” (v. 3).
Heaven is a place of joy. Imagine the joy of complete forgiveness. In heaven everyone will be whole and healthy, joyful and peaceful.
As I type these words, in my mind I am singing, “Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Today I yearn for “more.” God has provided more in heaven.
1. Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Tyndale Momentum, 2004), 333.
BILL PATTERSON serves as an associational missionary for the Green Valley Baptist Association in Henderson, Kentucky. He and his wife, Sandy, take great joy in their nine grandchildren. They love teaching biblical principles and introducing people to the Holy Land. [Lifeway Adults (NaN). (p. 150). Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
Stay Prepared and Ready
Question 1:
When have you been caught unprepared?
THE POINT
Grow in Christ as you wait for His return.
THE PASSAGE
Matthew 25:1-13
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
When I was a teenager, I worked at a fast-food restaurant in a mall. The owner often left teenagers alone to run the store at night. The main thing he asked was for someone to always be near the cash register, which I faithfully did. After all, we knew the boss could stop by anytime unannounced.
One slow night I was working with two other teenagers who were in the back laughing hilariously. They called out for me to join them, but I persistently kept telling them no—and they persistently kept calling to me. Finally, I sheepishly left my post at the register and went in the back. Literally seconds later the boss came in. I quickly darted back to the front, but it was clear the boss was not happy.
I was not at my post, which meant I was not prepared for the boss’s arrival. The same can be true in our spiritual lives. We are to live our lives so that when Christ returns, we will be unashamed before him (1 John 2:28). In Matthew 25, Jesus used a parable to show us how to be prepared.
MATTHEW 25:1-5
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them;
4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps.
5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
The parable of the ten virgins is one of several parables Jesus used to describe what the kingdom of heaven will be like. The kingdom of heaven is the state of things under the reign of God. It is God’s current reign over the lives of redeemed people that will become fully realized in His ultimate reign over all the earth.
The cultural background of this parable concerns Jewish wedding customs of the first century. Before a couple was married, they went through a period of betrothal. They were not fully married yet, but they were viewed as husband and wife. After about a year of a couple’s binding betrothal, the groom went to the bride’s home to bring her to his home for a seven-day feast. The groom did not do this alone. He was accompanied by a wedding party that escorted the couple to the bridegroom’s home. In Jesus’ parable, the wedding party included “ten virgins.” The virgins are young women of marriageable age. Here, the word virgin is used not so much to highlight their virginity or lack of sexual experience but to highlight their relationship to the bride. These were the bridesmaids. It was a great honor not only to be invited to the wedding but also to be a part of the wedding party.
A central part of Jesus’ parable involves lamps. Part of the bridesmaids’ responsibility was to light the path for the processional. In that day, small clay lamps were used in homes. But this story involved an outdoor procession where clay lamps would not be useful. The lamps in view here likely were torches that consisted of a long pole with olive oil-drenched rags at the top. To keep them lit, one needed a good supply of oil. Since the wedding was typically an evening ceremony, people would know that you needed to bring extra oil for your lamp.
The bridesmaids in Jesus’ parable were divided into two groups, and which group they were in depended on their level of preparation. The level of their preparation classed them as either “wise” or “foolish.” The word rendered foolish means inattentive, thick-headed, and unthinking. The word was frequently used in the Book of Proverbs to describe many ungodly traits.
The foolish virgins truly seemed to want to go to the wedding celebration; however, they did not respect the groom enough to think about the necessary preparations involved. On the other hand, the wise virgins show what a life of faith should look like. They have the opposite mindset of foolish virgins in that they thought ahead with clarity. People who have true faith in Christ show respect to Jesus by living lives of faithful preparation.
Jesus told this parable in the context of His teaching about His second coming, so we can see that the bridegroom represents Christ. The wise virgins reflect true believers. The foolish virgins reflect those who may profess a belief in Jesus, but they have not prepared for the end of life by seeking a real relationship with Christ. All are “invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9), but only those who accept the invitation through faith and trust in Christ will be able to attend.
The “twist” in Jesus’ parable came when “the groom was delayed.” This may refer to the stretch of history between Christ’s first coming and His return. Christ wanted His followers to wait patiently for His return but also be prepared for the unexpected. You likely know people who squander their time and procrastinate on important matters. This was the plight of the foolish virgins. They should have taken extra oil so that no matter how long it took for the groom to come out, their lamps would not go out.
The delay of the bridegroom led to the bridesmaids falling asleep. We should not read the fact that “they all became drowsy and fell asleep” with a negative connation. Jesus included no condemnation of their sleeping. After all, it was nighttime. In fact, the wise virgins could rest because they were fully prepared. It’s the foolish virgins who should not have slept until they were fully prepared, with full flasks of oil.
Question 2:
What makes it difficult to be diligent as we wait for Christ’s return?
MATTHEW 25:6-9
6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’
7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’
9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’
“In the middle of the night,” most people are deep in sleep. Since the bridegroom came at such a late, unexpected hour, it reinforces the principle that Christ’s return will be a surprise.
All ten bridesmaids were called out to meet the groom. It was during this time that the foolish virgins realized they had not prepared adequately for this moment. Trimming the lamps involved cutting the charred ends of the rags; the ends of the lamp rags needed to be trimmed when they dried out. After they “trimmed their lamps,” they had to add more oil to keep them lit. Then the lamps had to be replenished by saturating the rags about every fifteen minutes.
The story is unfortunate because the foolish virgins knew they did not have extra oil. They had just not been concerned enough to take the necessary steps to avoid their predicament. No specific reason was given for their negligence, but their negligence in this matter was foolish. Now they had run out of time; it was too late to prepare. Nevertheless, the foolish virgins tried unsuccessfully to light their torches. The dry, ragged cloths would merely smolder as soon they were lit. You can sense the panic setting in as the foolish bridesmaids begin to beg the wise virgins, “ ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ” Understandably, the wise virgins had brought enough oil for their own lamps, but they had no oil to spare or share.
Being prepared to meet Christ when He returns is an individual matter. That preparedness cannot be transferred or shared. Parents do their best to prepare their kids for adulthood. They help them, provide for them, teach them, and encourage them—but they cannot do their living for them. We cannot make choices for them.
In the same way, we cannot depend on other people to make us right with God. We can learn from friends and family. We can be instructed by great spiritual teachers, but we must make our own decisions for our spiritual journey. Since salvation is a direct gift from God, the saved person cannot operate as savior to another person. Recipients of grace do not possess the ability to impart it to someone else no matter how much compassion they can muster up. Each person must prepare himself for the coming kingdom!
Lack of spiritual preparation has eternal consequences. People tend to put preparation for other things above their spiritual lives. Many prepare well for their careers, their finances, and their relationships, yet they ignore the importance of spiritual preparation. It’s the individual’s response to the call of Christ that will determine his or her eternal future. No one has a second chance after Christ comes back (or one dies). The time is now.
Question 3:
What do these verses teach us about the need for individual readiness?
MATTHEW 25:10-13
10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’
12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’
13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Everyone likes a happy ending to a story. Unfortunately, this parable has a sad ending. When the foolish bridesmaids left to go buy more oil, “the groom arrived.” The groom would not think of pausing his wedding processional to wait on them. He “and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet” without the foolish bridesmaids and shut the door. A closed door kept out the first-century version of wedding crashers.
The door remained shut even to these bridesmaids who were initially a part of the wedding party because their lack of preparation was a grave insult to the bride and groom. The virgins were most likely friends of the family who had been honored by the opportunity to serve in the wedding party. The problem was that the five foolish virgins did not return that honor. They had been invited to play a specific role in the festivities, but they chose not to do what was necessary to fulfill that role. This was more than just a faux pas; it was an affront and insult to the bridegroom.
The shut door pictures unbelievers being shut out of the kingdom of God. Many people assume that if you are not a horrible person, you’ll go to heaven when you die. Their assumption is that just about everybody will get into heaven, but the Bible is clear: those who do not know Christ will be shut out of God’s kingdom forever.
The foolish bridesmaids had gone to get the lamp oil they should’ve gotten earlier, but when they were ready to enter the wedding banquet, they found the door was shut. They realized they had erred, and they begged for entrance. This is reminiscent of words the apostle John spoke at the beginning of the Book of Revelation: “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen” (Rev. 1:7).
As the foolish virgins begged for entrance, they called out, “ ‘Master, master.’ ” This was a forced attempt to show intimacy that did not exist. Sometimes we use words to imply a depth of relationship that is not actually there. Christ made a similar point in His Sermon on the Mount, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
The foolish virgins were firmly and emphatically denied entrance. The master began his answer to the unprepared virgins by saying, “ ‘Truly I tell you.’ ” Whenever Christ used this phrase, it meant He was about to say something that was not up for negotiation. What was non-negotiable here was the reality of the groom’s relationship with these five foolish virgins: “ ‘I don’t know you!’ ”
Salvation is an intimate personal relationship with God. Knowing Christ is not merely knowing data and information about God. While learning about Christ is important, our salvation is ultimately about personally knowing God, entering into a relationship that is initiated by Christ and received by us through faith and trust in Him. The Christian life then is a lifelong journey of growing closer to the One we know through faith.
Question 4:
How does this parable add urgency to our spiritual walk?
Since the time of entrance had passed, the master would not be changing his mind for any reason. Once Christ returns (or we experience physical death), we will have no last-minute attempts to make things right with God. It will be too little, too late. “And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
Jesus summed up this parable with a closing exhortation that He had said earlier in Matthew 24:36 and 42: “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.” This is an imperative, something we must do! We are to stay continually awake, constantly keeping watch. Let’s walk with Him, fully prepared and watching for the return of the One who loves us. By being prepared and ready for His coming, we demonstrate our respect, love, and trust of the Master.
Question 5:
What are the consequences of not being prepared for Christ’s return?
ENGAGE
On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your own personal preparedness for the return of Jesus. For any rating lower than 10, brainstorm ways you could be more prepared.
12345678910
Totally UnpreparedConfidently Prepared
LIVE IT OUT
Realize. Ask God to reveal to you areas of your relationship with Him that need improvement. Make those areas a priority in your daily walk with the Lord.
Memorize. Memorize Matthew 25:13, “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.” Let that be a positive motivation for practical preparation.
Exercise. We can’t change the past but we can make plans to use our time properly. What non-essential habit or activity can you eliminate from your schedule and replace with an activity that prepares you for Christ’s return?
THIS PLACE CALLED HEAVEN
By Bill Patterson
Before my grandbaby learned to talk, she learned some signs. Claire often used the sign for “more” when she wanted additional milk. I would scoop her up in my arms and take her outside to see the ladybugs and flowers. No matter how long we stayed, when we came back inside, Claire always gave the signal for “more.”
Something inside the human heart yearns for more. God provided more than this earth can offer in heaven!
God did not tell us everything about heaven, but He has told us plenty. Consider what we can know:
Heaven is a literal place. Since some people would question the reality of heaven, God let John record the measurements of the walls of heaven. (Rev. 21:15-16.) The walls ran over 1,400 miles long, wide, and high. The ground level alone would be close to 2 million square miles. Clearly, heaven has plenty of room for all who receive Jesus.
Heaven is a prepared place. Shortly before Jesus died, He said, “‘In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also’” (John 14:2-3). Matthew 25:34 says God prepared heaven from the foundation of the world. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.
Heaven is a place of happy reunion with loved ones. Whom do you look forward to seeing in heaven? I look forward to talking with my grandparents in heaven. I miss my mother and father and look forward to being with them again.
How do we know we will see our loved ones who have died in the Lord? In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus indicated recognition in heaven. Also, “Paul anticipated being with the Thessalonians in Heaven, and it never occurred to him he wouldn’t know them. In fact, if we wouldn’t know our loved one, the ‘comfort’ of an afterlife reunion, taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, would be no comfort at all.” 1
Heaven is a place where God lives. Think how wonderful it feels when you are in a worship service where His presence seems so close. Revelation 21 describes our future home with God: “God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them” (v. 3).
Heaven is a place of joy. Imagine the joy of complete forgiveness. In heaven everyone will be whole and healthy, joyful and peaceful.
As I type these words, in my mind I am singing, “Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Today I yearn for “more.” God has provided more in heaven.
1. Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Tyndale Momentum, 2004), 333.
BILL PATTERSON serves as an associational missionary for the Green Valley Baptist Association in Henderson, Kentucky. He and his wife, Sandy, take great joy in their nine grandchildren. They love teaching biblical principles and introducing people to the Holy Land. [Lifeway Adults (NaN). (p. 150). Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]