Do I Know You?

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  At midnight the cry rang out, ‘Here comes the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him.’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’  “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.”  But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.’’  Matthew 25:1-13

 

(I hope you have been following our journey through this parable.  If not, feel free to go back to the first post “Are You Ready for the Groom? Part I.” Regardless, I feel sure you can still glean from the devotional today.)

The last few verses of the parable today are so sad, so desperate.  The virgins who waited, watched, shopped and ran back, were denied entrance into the wedding banquet.  Can you imagine how their hearts fell as they ran up, excited and eager about what was to come, only to realize that they had completely missed their window of opportunity because they were unprepared?  They began to beseech the groom, to beg and plead.  But the answer was basically “No, I don’t know you.”

It is the biggest desire of my heart –and I hope yours as well- to be acknowledged by the Lord and allowed entrance into heaven to enjoy his glories forevermore.  For him to tell me that he did not know me would be the most crushing, destroying reality of any lifetime.  Do you know the groom?  Does he know you?  Jesus died for you, bled for you, has pursued and loved you.  When he comes, will he find you ready to go?  Or would he say, “Do I know you?”  This reminds me of the passage in Matthew 7:22-23 that says: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

I pray that you never hear those words from THE Bridegroom, Jesus.  We, the church, the Bride of Christ, must be washed, watching and ready for his return.  There will be only the one invitation.  We will either go in or hear the words “I knew you not.”

Dear Lord, help me to know that I am ready.  Help me to be a witness in this world, so that no one I love will be left behind.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri