Unprepared

by Ken Thomas

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins of Matthew 25 came alive to me again today as I tried to help some of my students meet course requirements and to pass. Some of these students have been very lax in their attendance, have done little homework, and have not taken tests on schedule. However, their final test is tomorrow, and today they decided to get me to tutor them in a full semester of math. They also overloaded the lab to take tests which should already have been taken. A few were quite disappointed when I could not leave a group of conscientious students to give them individual help.
In Jesus' parable he speaks of foolish girls who at the last moment thought of their need to have oil in their lamps, could not borrow from their wiser friends, and had to try to find a late-night supplier of oil. Arriving too late to meet the bridegroom, and finding the door shut, they were refused when they pleaded, "Lord, open to us." In the day of judgement, where will you be? Will you be with the bridegroom, inside the door? Or will you be outside, standing with the foolish, the unprepared?