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I can see why Ronzo talks about preparedness. The foolish virgins probably weren't thinking ahead, that they might all fall asleep and be wakened at the last moment, see that their lamps had gone out, and have to run and get the oil they did not bring with them.

Matthew 25:10-13
10 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.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Our duty as Christians is also compared to a watchman upon the tower. Those who are not watchful, prayerful, and vigilant become slothful, sloppy, lazy, and neglect their duty, and the enemy comes upon them when they are unaware and does great harm.

Similarly, the Bridegroom comes, those who are ready go in, and the door is shut.

Of course, how can we consider ourselves well-prepared to meet the Bridegroom if we have not learned to recognize the still, small voice and live by the Spirit? (which I think goes to your point)

Thank you so much for your post!

Those who are not watchful, prayerful, and vigilant become slothful, sloppy, lazy, and neglect their duty, and the enemy comes upon them when they are unaware and does great harm.

So very true. The complacent Christian will end up beset with worldly concerns and perhaps not even be ready when the Bridegroom comes.

Excellent point White Mt. This goes along with the 33rd chapter of Ezekiel, which is one of my favorites in the OT. But according to Ezekiel, we are not just to be watchman for ourselves, but also to warn others as God puts it on our heart to do so.

We had a really good Saturday morning Bible study about this very topic: "What does it mean to 'keep watch?'" We came to the conclusion, looking at how that phrase 'keep watch' is used by Jesus, that it is nothing more than encouragement to be ready for whenever Jesus should decide to return. And that does not just mean his literal, physical return to earth, but speaks more to being ready to die. Some of us know in advance the approximate time of our death, and this is the grace of God to have this knowledge. But many do not have this knowledge, and so there death comes unexpectedly, and they have made no preperations to 'meet their maker.' For those who aren't ready, they will find themselves wishing they had been...

Then the conversation turned to what it means to "be ready." The youngest memeber of the group had the best, most succint answer: you have to 'walk the talk.' Or, to put it a little more clearly, you must live by the words of the Good Book on an everyday basis, to the best of your ability, and continually make it a priority in your life to do so. Of course we are not perfect beings, and we make mistakes all the time. We cannot possibly live accourding to the high morality of the Bible on our own. That's why God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. By his enabling power, we can live up to the standards that God gives, and even surpass them! That is why the Holy Spirit is of foundational importance in a Christian's life.