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Once ten young women joyously anticipated the groom's arrival. It was getting dark, so they turned on the flashlights they had with them. Five also brought extra batteries in case the wait was long. As they waited, they got sleepy and fell asleep. Suddenly, someone cried, “He's coming, he's coming!” By then the batteries had worn down on the flashlights, but the five with extra batteries quickly swapped in the fresh batteries. The others asked them for spare batteries, but there weren't any. So they ran off to the nearest all-night supermarket. But while they were gone, the groom arrived and all those who were ready joined him and entered the banquet hall. Then the doors were locked. When those who had gone to get batteries came back, it was too late.
You might think that the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) is unfair: why didn't the five women with extra batteries share? Why were the doors locked? How could they have known they would wait so long? But Jesus told this story (here with slightly updated technology) to show that His true followers must live always prepared for His return.
We don't know if this parable was in Paul's mind when he wrote 1 Thessalonians. Both passages make it clear that those who live unprepared for Christ's return will get caught off guard and will have terrible consequences. Darkness often portrays moral rebellion in the Bible. Sleep portrays a lack of readiness or vigilance for His return. It also suggests a moral indifference. Drunkenness indicates the dulling effect that comes from preoccupation with worldly things and ways.
This passage is sobering, but Paul offers several encouragements. First, as believers, we're in the light (v. 5). Second, because of this, we're to put on faith, love, and hope. This military image indicates that this triad—faith, love, and hope—actually protects our hearts and minds against the moral darkness around us. Third, believers aren't awaiting wrath, but salvation. Finally, we're to encourage one another with these powerful truths.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Bible scholar G. K. Beale writes, “To be drunk spiritually is to imbibe too much of the world's way of looking at things and not enough of the way God views reality. To be intoxicated with the world's wine is to be numbed to feeling any fear in the presence of a coming judgment.” Like the wise virgins, we're to live ready for Christ to return at any time. Rather than being caught off guard or ashamed, we'll be ready to enter the wedding hall rejoicing and singing.
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