DEVOTION//I’m sorry, but it’s too late

“I’m admitting young healthy people to the hospital with very serious COVID infections. One of the last things they do before they’re intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that I’m sorry, but it’s too late.”

These are the words of Dr. Brytney Cobia, a hospitalist at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham. They sound similar to the words of the bridegroom in Jesus' parable about the foolish and wise virgins.

In the parable (Matthew 25:1-13), ten young women were wedding attendants. Their responsibility was to light the way for the bridal party to festivities that took place sometime after the wedding. But to do that, they needed sufficient oil in their lamps. Five of them prepared for the possibility of the bridegroom arriving late to bring his bride to the banquet. The other five failed to bring extra oil.

The bridegroom did arrive late. By then the oil in the lamps of the foolish virgins had run out. Because they were forced to buy more oil for their lamps, they arrived at the festivities late -- so late the banquet hall doors were locked.

"'Lord, Lord,' they cried to the bridegroom, 'let us in.'"

Jesus says the bridegroom refused to let them in. He answered, "Amen I tell you: I do not know you."

The point of Jesus' parable: "Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour" when Judgment Day will arrive. At that moment, it will be too late to seek forgiveness and entry into heaven's banquet.

Paul pleads with anyone who thinks they have plenty of time to repent of their sins, "Look, now is the favorable time! See, now is the day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 6:2) NOW! Not later today. Not tomorrow. Not once college is over. Not once retirement has arrived. NOW. 

You are reading this. That means there still is time. But consider the time very short.

Forgiveness and an invitation to Jesus' eternal wedding feast is available to you. No matter how ill-prepared you have been up until now for Judgment Day.

Acknowledge your sinfulness and your need for God's grace in Jesus. It's not too late. Do it now.

"Now is the favorable time! …Now is the day of salvation!"