Delay

As the bridegroom was delayed . . . 

 - From Matthew 25

This may be one of the most unnoticed, but important, little phrases in all of Scripture. It is an essential element in the Parable of the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom was delayed.

At first, those of us that tend to show up to things a little late, can gain some satisfaction from it. Even Christ Himself could be late (wasn't He late when Lazarus died?). If the King of Kings can be late, then it must be okay? 

What could possibly make Christ late? Obviously, He has more important things to do. He's building His Kingdom, He's acting in the lives of millions of people. steering them on the path to eternal life. He's communing with the Father. Perhaps He's building up His reserves for the great Final battle!

But the Son of God can be late if He wants to. He is not obligated to tell us why. And this is part of what faith is all about. Stop pining over "Why has Jesus not returned yet?" Have faith. Live in this moment.

I have a friend that departed from the Christian walk, because of a book he read that built the case as to why Jesus should have returned during the lives of the Apostles. Since He didn't, it was all a lie, and a fraud. But this is silly. Jesus said, right here, to the Twelve, that the Bridegroom will be delayed. And thank God He has been delayed! Every child yet born, will therefore have a chance to enter eternity with us!

I want to stress this point: The Bridegroom will be delayed. And the bridesmaids that did not prepare oil for their lamps are the ones that were not planning for it now, anyway. Over time they got tired and began forgetting that He was coming back.

I look at today. And in less than one generation (two, at most), a tradition that was rich in my own family and church culture, has been all but wiped out, in our malaise. We have gotten so engaged in money-making, entertainment, being cool, being "happy" (which we deserve, right?), taking sides in politics, that we have allowed the Church to become divided and without purpose.

Maybe someone will come along, as King Josiah did, and read some of the old writings about the Return of Christ and all the truths that attend it. Maybe they'll feel a great pain of guilt for letting their forbears down for letting it slip! They'll have to fight a temptation to resent their parents, for not taking it seriously enough.

The Bridegroom is delayed. We should have known about this and lived accordingly.