"Hide and Go Seek" was one of my favorite childhood games. Someone would count to a decided number while the rest would look for a great place to hide. But, before the perfect spot could be found, time was up, forcing you to quickly find a spot that would conceal you enough to not be the first to be discovered. I clearly remember the excitement felt at the words: "Ready or Not, here I come!"

In Matthew 25, we read about 10 young bridesmaids who were anxiously awaiting the groom's arrival. Tradition was that ten lit lamps would receive him and lead him to his bride. However, because no one knew the exact time of his arrival, they had to be prepared with plenty of oil in their lamps. In this parable we see that it had become late and the young women had fallen asleep only to be awoken by the "READY or NOT, here he comes" shouting in the streets. Half of the bridesmaids were indeed READY as they had filled their lamps with oil and even had a reserve, but the other half was NOT, and their oil supply had depleted in the wait. As the groom passed by, the five that were ready quickly arose to go with him to the wedding feast. The five that were not ready had gone to fill their lamps but found that they were too late, for upon their arrival, the venue doors had closed, and the groom did not recognize them.

As Christians, we too, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our Groom – The return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - and as such we must be prepared to receive him. We must be alert, with our lights shining bright so that when we hear Him say "Ready or Not, Here I Come!" we will be ready to join Him immediately, and not be caught unprepared still filling our spiritual lamps. The time to prepare is now because as the verse says, we "do not know the day or the hour".  Ready or not, our Lord is coming!

Suggested Prayer:

Dear Lord, you are so patient with your children and you have given us ample time to prepare for your coming. I know that the day of your arrival is near, and I don't want to be caught unprepared. I want to serve you and live each day as if this is the day of your return. I ask that you fill me with your Holy Spirit so that upon your arrival my lamp can be full and ready to receive you and in turn you can recognize me as your child. I pray this in Jesus' Loving Name, Amen.

1. Matthew 25:13 (NIV).