While Men Slept

 Jesus told a story that ought to shake every careless Christian awake.

It is the story of the ten virgins found in Matthew 25. Five were wise. Five were foolish. All ten were waiting on the bridegroom. All ten expected him to come. All ten had lamps. All ten became drowsy and slept.

But there was one difference that changed everything.

Five were prepared ahead.

Five did not.

The Bible says:

“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

— Matthew 25:2-4 KJV

Friend, notice something important. Jesus said they all slept.

That means this parable is not about people running around in panic every moment. It is about whether they were prepared before the midnight cry came.

The cry suddenly rang out:

“Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”

— Matthew 25:6 KJV

And suddenly, preparation mattered.

The wise had oil.

The foolish did not.

The foolish virgins had assumed there would always be more time. They assumed they could prepare later. They assumed somebody else would help them when the moment came.

But when the darkness came, and the cry rang out, it was too late to prepare.

The wise could not save the foolish.

The foolish could not borrow readiness.

Each person had to stand on what they had prepared beforehand.

That is where many Christians are today.

Many are spiritually asleep while the world grows darker by the day. Wars increase. Economies shake. Nations rage. Morality collapses. Churches compromise. Violence spreads. Fear fills the earth.

Yet many still say:

“Nothing bad will happen.”

“We won’t be here.”

“There is no need to prepare.”

“God will take care of everything.”

Friend, God does take care of His people.

But throughout Scripture, God also warned His people to prepare.

Noah prepared the ark before judgment fell.

Joseph stored grain before famine struck.

The wise virgins carried oil before the midnight cry came.

Preparation is not fear.

Preparation is obedience mixed with wisdom.

The tragedy of the foolish virgins was not that they slept.

The tragedy was that they slept unprepared.

When the cry came, they had to run searching for oil while the wise entered into the marriage feast.

The Bible says:

“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”

— Matthew 25:10 KJV

Those words ought to sober every one of us:

“They that were ready.”

Not those who intended to get ready.

Not those who mocked preparation.

Not those who assumed tomorrow would come.

Those who were ready.

Friend, this message is bigger than storing food or keeping supplies. The greatest preparation is spiritual.

Do you have oil in your lamp?

Do you know Christ?

Are you walking faithfully?

Are you spiritually prepared if the world changes tomorrow?

But there is practical wisdom here, too.

The wise virgins prepared before the crisis arrived.

Not after.

Many today wait until shelves are empty before they think about food.

They wait until power fails before they think about light.

They wait until systems break before they think about dependence.

Wisdom prepares while there is still time.

Not out of panic.

Not out of hysteria.

But because wise people understand storms come.

Jesus never promised this world would become safer before His return.

In fact, He warned the opposite.

So let us not walk in fear.

Let us not surrender to foolish speculation.

But let us not ignore the signs of unstable times either.

Be spiritually ready.

Be mentally ready.

Be practically ready.

Because one day the cry will come:

“Behold, the bridegroom cometh.”

And in that hour, preparation will matter.