August 10, 2025 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

Abby Cheng 

This week's sermon expounds on the parable of the ten virgins or bridesmaids and the importance of living our lives prepared for the second coming of Jesus. When you read the parable, it's natural to focus on verses 11 and 12 as its main lesson: “Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’” It's a cautionary tale that urges believers in verse 13 to “keep watch” and be ready for His return, or else you may find yourself excluded from heaven. 

While humans can be scared into obeying instructions for fear of consequences, the prospect of reward is often a more effective tool to get people to listen and act. That's what I focused on when I read this parable, in verse 10: “Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” I've been to a few weddings in my life and they have been some of the most fun nights, what with all the food, drinks, dancing, and company. For me though, the best part is witnessing the couple come together in holy matrimony and celebrating together with them, simply because I love them. This is what stood out to me from the parable: we are urged to keep watch and live prepared for Jesus’ return because we love him and get to be with Him again for eternity! It's such a blessing to come to know Jesus in such a way that, instead of saying, “I'm going to live according to His word because I'm scared of hell,” we say “I'm going to live prepared for His return because I'm so excited to be with Him forever.”