Have you had that moment when you’ve been studying and you decide to take a phone break and that’s exactly when your parents decide to come in and check on you? “See, I caught you on your phone again!” they scold you. And you protest, “But I was really studying! You just came in at the wrong time.” 

This excuse probably won’t work with our parents. And it definitely doesn’t work with God. We cannot possibly tell God He came at the wrong time! Paul reminds us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”, a time we will not expect. Will we be caught off guard? 

Will He find us faithful? 

Jesus asks in Luke 18:8, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

When Jesus returns, will we be found faithful? Or will we be half-asleep, like the 5 foolish virgins who thought they had prepared but were in fact ill-prepared? (Matt 25:1-13) 

When Jesus returns, would we try to tell Him, “I was good! I was doing many things for you! It just so happened that when You came, I was preoccupied with something else.”, or “I did plan to be more faithful in the future when I’m more free, it just so happened that I was busy with other matters when You came!”? 

Verse 3 warns us “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” His coming will not be at a time that is convenient for us. Hence, what is important is not whether we were once faithful or whether we plan to be faithful at some point, but whether we are found faithful when He returns. 

The wise virgins carried extra oil because they knew they had to be prepared at all times. They didn’t bank on their oil from yesterday, nor did they think they could just make preparations tomorrow, but they were prepared daily so that whenever the Bridegroom came, they would be ready. This meant they had to carry the extra weight of the vessels that were filled with oil. 

In order to be ready at the coming of our Lord, we also need to carry a weight. This could be the extra time and energy we set aside to worship God and learn His word. It could mean taking on additional areas of service in church, to love and serve the sheep of our Master. Or putting aside our own desires in order to be faithful in upholding God’s word and fulfilling His commission. Ultimately, it means putting on Christ daily, striving every single day to draw closer to Him, and working out our salvation with fear and trembling. 

Conclusion

1 Thess 5:8 “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” 

May we live every day ready to meet our Lord, steadfast in faith, love and hope. And when He comes again, may He find us faithful.