I was commissioned to do an original painting that was similar to another painting I did called Regeneration. The client wanted it to fit a gold frame she had, which was over her fireplace. The frame was not a customary size, so I had to have the hardboard specially cut, to fit her frame.
“Get Ready” is about the believer in Jesus Christ, getting ready for the return of Christ. It’s an illustration of one of the five wise virgins, as told in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. Five were wise and five were foolish. When the groom came back for his bride, only five were ready. In Mt. 25:10 it says the wise virgins went in to the marriage celebration. Later the foolish virgins (bridesmaids) came to the door but the groom said he didn’t know them and shut the door. This parable can be a mystery; so, let’s look at Jewish culture as it was practiced in Bible times.
In a typical Jewish marriage during ancient times, a prospective groom went to the intended bride’s parents and asked to marry her. He made promises to take care of her and had to pay a dowry for her. If the parents and girl agreed, they signed a marriage contract (called a Ketubah), after which, they were 100% legally married. There were three stages to a marriage, or three C’s: the legal Contract, Consummation, and Celebration, in that order. There was no wedding ceremony like we have today. The girl stayed with her parents while the groom went back to his family and prepared a home for his bride. This could take days or years. In the meantime the bride and her bridesmaids prepared, so they would be ready for his return. It would be dishonorable if they were not ready. No one knew the exact day or hour he would come back for his bride. When it was time, he came back and spent 7 days in privacy with her. Afterwards they all went with the bridesmaids, friends, and family to the groom’s place for a huge wedding feast that lasted for days.
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, get to know Him now. Don’t be like the foolish bridesmaids who knocked on the door at the wedding feast only to painfully discover that they weren’t allowed inside. Get to know Him now! Ask Jesus to forgive you and invite Him into your heart and life, so that you will be welcome in His home that He is preparing for YOU. Search your heart and “Get Ready” by becoming born again. You can never earn your own salvation by yourself or by doing good things. Only Jesus can save you. That’s how God set it up. His salvation is free to you, but it cost Jesus his life. He paid the price for your salvation on the cross. Believe that Jesus died for you on the cross, and give the rest of your life over to Him. He’ll wash all your sins away and give you a new start, becoming the bride of Christ, born again into the kingdom of God, and joint heirs with Jesus.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 14:2 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.
