I recently went to Williamsburg, VA., one of my favorite places. My first visit to Williamsburg was a field trip in the 6th grade. I remember having lunch with my classmates and buying paper dolls. One of the things I enjoy about Williamsburg is the scenic tree lined Colonial Parkway. On a hot summer’s day, the trees provide a good amount of shade and breeze, as I drive with the windows down. Ah, I can just picture it in my mind’s eye, the rivers and ponds. During the summer, the first stop is always the Yorktown Beach. Summer is almost on the horizon. One of the best reasons its one of my favorites, is, I can be there in 2.5 hours.
I had to have some major work done in my basement. The project lasted on and off for 2 years. The Lord kept speaking to my heart, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 Timing is everything with the Lord, He knew who and when the work was to start and the completion. Contractors were hired, I opted to complete the work, (ie) painting, shoe molding. With my last nail in the wall, I said, “It’s a wrap.” My bags were already packed! The weatherman kept predicting a storm on the horizon, I knew I had to leave a day earlier. That really threw a monkey wrench in my plans, I could not change the arrival day at the resort, now I had to make a hotel reservation.
I left home on a beautiful, warm, sunny Saturday. I said in the back of my mind, take your winter coat. Well, you know what happened, I failed to take my winter coat. The old adage goes like this, “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” When I awoke Sunday morning, snow and sleet was very visible.
As you know, we are experiencing a pandemic. The hotel offered free breakfast, which consisted of an apple, muffin, breakfast bar, and water. That was not my idea of breakfast, I wanted some real food. News flash, snow, sleet, spring jacket, uhm? I immediately realized I was unprepared. Immediately the Holy Spirit bought to mind, the Ten Virgins, five foolish, five wise. It was definitely a Selah Moment.
I was not completely prepared, I thought I was. I meticulously made a list of all the things to pack. Matthew 25:1-17 really unpacks this parable. All ten virgins had oil, but five carried extra oil in flasks in addition to the oil in their lamps. The other five virgins only had oil in their lamps, which eventually runs out. The foolish virgins asked the wise virgins for some of their oil, the wise virgins reply was no, they needed enough for themselves. I really had to sit down and think about this, as the Bride of Christ, I want to be ready when He comes. The Word of God tells us in Matthew 24: 42 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
This was and is a reinforcement for me, not to relax in the things of the Lord. I have heard since I was a little girl, that Jesus is coming back, I’m 61, He has not returned as of this writing. But this one thing I know that I know, He is Coming! As a Bride, I’m going to be ready when my Bridegroom returns, I’ll do whatever it takes to be ready. He is mine and I am His. Selah!