Are you prepared?

This is the first sermon in a three part series entitled The King is Coming. I preached this sermon on August 31, 2008.
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Introduction: In Matthew 24 Jesus foretells his return and calamities preceding his second coming. Chapter 25 serves then as application to that fact. Since Jesus will return, what does that mean for the world? Well, in these three parables we see the importance of preparation, priorities and presentation. So in this first parable, often called the parable of the 10 virgins, we see the importance of preparation for the imminent return of Christ. Jesus shares this parable with his disciples to teach them of the second coming of Christ.
-It will be delayed
-It will come at an hour you didn’t expect
-There are some who will not be prepared for his return – these people have great intentions (how many times do I talk to people who have every intention of coming to church but do not). Now, if this is you your intentions are in the right place, God looks at the heart and sees your intentions. But good intentions are not enough. Intending to be a Christian will not get you into heaven.
These foolish virgins had every intention of going to the wedding celebration, but their good intentions did not get them in the door. They were unprepared.
Dear friend, one day the midnight cry will sound, but by then it will be too late to follow up on your good intentions.
What can we learn from this parable?

Too Little
the five wise and the five foolish (moron) virgins had one thing in common they both wanted to go the wedding feast (these virgins represent everyone who has been invited to heaven, some will enter and some will not, most people wanting to go to heaven, but many take the wrong way! Matthew 7:13-14 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. – Jesus is the way!)
the foolish took no extra oil, They took too little. the wise took extra oil they made preparation that the oil in their lamp would not be enough. The bridegroom was delayed.
You are living your life with little thought of the future see Matthew 24:36-39
these foolish virgins were negligent in their responsibility with the oil they had been given
-Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation

Too Late
the midnight cry – unexpected! –trimmed their lamps – now was the time! Imagine their elation, the bridegroom did in fact arrive!
– foolish realized they did not have the oil to leave and go to the house of the bridegroom and the celebration. They would be left behind! They begged the wise virgins to share their oil (now it may seem that the wise virgins were selfish, but they could not give their oil, the foolish virgins needed their own oil! We cannot save anyone! And my salvation cannot get you a foot in heaven’s door! You must have your own oil, you must have Christ yourself!
-It is too late!
-Some will be left behind! see Matthew 24:40-42
you think you have plenty of oil, plenty of time. Foolish, don’t waste your life you can’t get right first and then come to Jesus, you must get some oil from the bridegroom
Many have said “I don’t want to be saved now because I want to wait until I am sure I can live it, until I am sure I can give it my all.” What makes you think that day will ever come? What if the virgins said “I won’t by any more oil until I am sure that I will need it? That is foolish
-the rich fool who built bigger barns! Luke 12:16-21
16: And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18: And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19: And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20: But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21: So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.