Before this pandemic, many of us had prepared for activities, events, or celebrations in March, April, and even the months to come. Little did we know that COVID-19 will cause most of our plans to be altered that is either postponed or canceled.

Well, spring 2020 semester was my last semester in seminary, I was looking forward to participating in the beautiful commencement ceremony. My seminary education has been very enriching and also challenging. I looked forward to crowning the end of my seminary journey with the graduation celebration and with friends and family. Unfortunately, my plans and hope for this day will not be achieved because of the current pandemic crisis. I am sure many of you are also disappointed at how this crisis has drastically interrupted your plans and preparations.

It is an integral part of life to plan and prepare for the future even when we are uncertain about interruptions that may interfere with our plans and preparations. The point is that it is always better to be prepared even when unsure about the future than not to be prepared at all. Let us take a look at the parable, our Lord Jesus Christ said in the gospel, according to Matthew in Matthew 25:1-13.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.⁶ “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ ⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV

In this parable, we find that the five virgins who failed to prepare adequately miss the opportune time when the bridegroom arrived to meet him. Jesus Christ likened this parable to the day of his second coming that if we fail to stay prepared for his second coming, we will be like the five virgins who missed the bridegroom.

As I reflect on this parable, I wonder how sorrowful it will be for those who disregarded the call to prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It seems easier for us to prepare and plan for things on this side of eternity, which may or may not happen than to prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is bound to happen where nothing can interrupt this event, not even a pandemic.

Dear one, let us meditate on Matthew 25:1-13 and allow the words of the Lord Jesus Christ to wake us to prepare for His coming. To prepare for the Lord Jesus Christ is to continue to abide in Him, obey His word, do God’s will, love God, love your neighbor and always yield to the guidance of the Spirit of God in your life. Our plans and preparations in the past few months or months to come may have been disrupted by this unfortunate event of pandemic but preparation for the Lord Jesus Christ is one that will never be wasted because if we prepare for Him, we shall surely meet Him and be with Him in joyful eternity. Beloved remember that Jesus Christ loves you dearly for He gave His life for you.