Are You Ready?
John 14:2,3 (NKJV): “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
In an ancient Jewish wedding tradition, after the bride and groom are betrothed, the groom traditionally goes to his father’s house to prepare for his bride. He may be away for up to a year while he builds a living space for his new wife and family. During this time, he usually adds rooms to his father’s house or builds a separate home. The bride stays at home, preparing herself, her garments, and other things for the groom’s arrival. By tradition, the bride must have an oil lamp and plenty of oil because the groom comes at night when no one expects him and takes her to his home.
The Bible says the church, the Christian believers, are the bride of Christ. (Revelation 19:7) Do you see the connection? Jesus said In My Father’s house there are many mansions. Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving to prepare a place for you. Like Jewish tradition, Jesus went back to His Father’s house because He is making a place for us! He is adding more living space for us. Remember, in Jewish tradition, the groom was away for up to a year because he needed time to complete the building. Can you imagine what Jesus is building for us?
Most Christians focus on the mansions part. “Yes, Lord!! I’m going to get my mansion in Heaven! Where the streets are paved in gold! Yes, I’m going to be living large!” Here is something very important most Christians miss. Jesus told a parable about ten virgins who went out to meet their grooms. Five were wise, and five were foolish. The wise virgins prepared themselves, took oil lamps and extra oil, while the foolish ones took their lamps but no oil. The grooms were delayed on their way back, so the brides all fell asleep. At midnight a cry was heard, and the grooms were coming. The brides with oil lit their lamps, but the foolish brides had no oil to light theirs. They begged the others for oil, but they said no because they might run out.
The wise brides spent time preparing because they didn’t know when the groom was coming. The foolish brides were not prepared when their grooms arrived. They rushed to buy oil, but when they returned, the door was shut, and the wedding had started. They were not allowed in.
The similarities between the traditional Jewish wedding and Jesus’ return are identical. The Bible says no one knows the time or day of Jesus’ return. But when Jesus finishes preparing a place for us in Heaven, He will come back. The question is, will you be ready? Are you preparing now? Do you have your oil now? When He comes, there will be no time to run and buy your oil. Meaning, you won’t have time to prepare for His return, because He is already here! It will be too late.
Be Blessed!
Ron
Ron Cobbs Ministries © Copyright October 14th, 2026, All Rights Reserved
