I saw a man with a “sandwich board” a few months ago. In front it read “The end of the world is nigh.” On the back was “Prepare to meet thy God”. I guessed he was going to a fancy dress party; I did not consider for one minute that he was serious. The problem is, I saw him again the next week, so I suppose he really meant it.

As individuals, we tend not to believe that sort of thing; at least we don’t usually admit it. If you start a conversation about the world ending, final judgment and all the rest, people think you are a bit unbalanced, rather extreme or perhaps a closet “Jehovah’s Witness”. So this gospel reading about being prepared (Matthew 25 v 1-13) brings us up short. Prepared for what?

There is certainly a serious issue at stake. The consequences of not being ready, are to be shut out of the “wedding feast” (v 10) and for Christ to say “I don’t know you” (v 12).

The ten virgins in the parable all seem alike to begin with. All have lamps and go out to meet the bridegroom who represents Jesus (v 1). However, five are wise, with jars of oil to replenish their lamps, and five are foolish and have no spare oil with them so that they are unprepared for the delay in the bridegroom’s arrival (v 2-5). If he had come in daylight, all would have been well for both wise and foolish, but he came at midnight (v 6) so lamps were needed. The foolish virgins sought to borrow oil from the others, but were refused, and while they were seeking more the bridegroom arrived, entered the house where the banquet was to be held, and the door was shut (v 7-10)

The message is stark. You must be prepared. You cannot borrow from anyone. The time will come when it will be too late.

We shrink from absolutes, and many attempts have been made to find a way round this uncompromising parable. Perhaps the oil represents Bible knowledge, and those who have not read the Bible enough will be unprepared for Kingdom service. Perhaps the wedding feast represents a Christian festival for which advanced preparation is needed. However, the context of this parable shows Jesus to be talking about far more serious and important issues. In the preceding chapter he warns about his “coming” and “the end of the age” (24 v 3) and instructs his disciples to “be ready” because he will return unexpectedly (v 44). The parable of the virgins is followed by that of the talents (25 v 14-30), and of the sheep and the goats (v 31-46), rehearsing repeatedly the theme of judgment and separation, with “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v 30) and “eternal punishment” (v 46) as the consequences for those judged adversely. It seems that the man with the sandwich board was right after all.

As the season of Advent approaches, we think of preparation for Christmas, and remember the birth of Jesus. However, the Bible readings for the Advent season focus at least as much on the second coming as on the first. A sermon about preparing to celebrate Christmas has far more popular appeal than one dealing with the second coming, but is actually selling us short. Wonderful as the birth of Jesus was, in heralding a new beginning in God’s dealings with humankind, it is the second coming that will finally bring in the promised blessings. Perhaps “end of the world” is the wrong name for what we are awaiting; it is not an end, but the start of the Kingdom in its fullness – though it is certainly to be the end of human history, that catalogue of failure, cruelty and loss. It is something to be eagerly expected, and seriously prepared for. When that day comes, there will be no opportunity to “borrow” holiness from another, and anyone not ready will find the door shut; it will be too late.