1:26 For you see your
calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the
world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world
to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the
world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which
are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory
in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us
wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that,
as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
I had to officiate a wedding one time for a couple not from
our culture. My wife wanted to know what time everything would be over. I
smiled and told her with a wink that I didn't know when the wedding would
start.
It was scheduled to start at 2pm. At the rehearsal I told the
wedding coordinator who didn't know the couple well not to be in a panic for
time and the wedding would likely start late.
I got to the church at 1:30. Not because I expected I needed
to be but because I had some other things to do. At 1:45 the coordinator came.
She was the first arrival. She was completely flustered for two reasons. First
because she was so late herself and secondly because no one was there. She
grabbed her phone to call the bride. I told her it was OK. They would come.
About 5 minutes later some locals came who were casual acquaintances of the
couple but not familiar with them or their culture when it came to time. They
came expecting to slip into the back row just before the wedding started. It
was less than ten minutes to the scheduled start and they were confused. I was
not. I actually found the whole event quite amusing. To make a long story short
the groom and his entourage came about 2:20 and the bride and her party about
2:45.
There was a delay that some never expected yet those "in
the know" were not surprised at all. Everything was normal.
Now back to our ten virgins. All had wisdom. They all knew
about the wedding. They all knew the bridegroom was on His way. They knew the
location to meet Him. They all knew the schedule. Five though brought extra
oil. Why? It's like they knew...
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that
with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.
Yesterday we saw that the foolish were denied entrance
because "I don't know you..." and that in Matthew 7 others will be
denied entrance who although very religious were told "I never knew
you..."
All ten virgins had lamps. They had the Book. They even had a
knowledge of what was in the book. Five were prepared for, even expected a
delay. Five did not.
I saw a quote this week: "Jesus' first instructions to
His disciples were not 'believe these things' but rather 'follow Me."
Lots of people talk about what they believe. Few talk about
who they believe.
I knew that wedding was going to start late. I was prepared
for it. I knew them.
Do you know Him? The wise think it's all about knowing. They
each have a strategy. They are all preparing in some form or another. There is
even a whole subculture in America now called "Preppers".
God does not want our religion or our resume. He just wants
us. He wants to know us and be known by us. He has taken care of everything
else.
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