Pastor Ken
In everyday language, Plan B refers to the backup plan that can be put into action right away if Plan A fails, allowing us to still achieve our desired outcome.
A well-known story in the Bible is the parable of the ten virgins (young girls), which teaches a valuable lesson about the wisdom of preparedness. Jesus taught in the parable that there were five wise girls and five foolish ones. The event took place during a wedding preparation. Jewish weddings typically began after sunset. The bridegroom would go to the bride’s house to meet her. Once the couple completed the ceremony, the wedding procession would return to the groom’s house. There, ten maids awaited. It is unclear whether their role was to serve the bride alone or all the guests. Once the wedding party was gathered, they would join the banquet and share the joy.
However, a predicament arose when the groom returned later than anticipated. As the procession drew near, the girls realized that their lamps would go out soon. The five wise girls took out the backup oil bottles they had prepared, but the other five had no extra oil. While they went to buy more, the wedding party arrived. The wise girls joined the procession and entered the house as the door closed behind them. The other five missed their chance to partake in the festivities.
Jesus told this parable to explain that after he left the world, he would return one day. Many people have tried to predict a certain day in a certain year. What if Jesus doesn’t return on that day? Do we have a contingency plan? The point of the parable is that the five wise girls were prepared. If the groom and the party returned at the expected time, everyone should have enough oil for their lamps. When there was a delay, only those who had a Plan B could go in and enjoy the banquet.
The Bible teaches that God is a God who plans and prepares. Although He could have created the world in a single day, He chose to do so over the course of six days, followed by a day of rest. When Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, God prepared a sheep for him. Before departing the world, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them. Given God’s unrelenting preparedness, it is only fitting that those who serve Him should also be adequately prepared.
Preparation involves anticipating future scenarios and taking appropriate actions in the present. For example, we used to live in the Bay Area (San Francisco, California), a region prone to earthquakes. We must stock up on three days’ worth of drinking water and food. At schools, students also need to prepare emergency supplies.
Since we believe that one day we will enter the kingdom of heaven, we should adopt Jesus’ value system, keep his teachings in mind, and imitate his way of life when we are still living in this world. This is our preparation.
Jesus did not tell us when He would come back. We don’t need to know that date. He didn’t demand all his disciples to sell their properties and donate to the church, either. Plan B should be based on current data, known facts, and our situational constraints. Today, when we still have freedom and opportunities, let us serve God and others as much as possible. Regardless of what the future may hold, we can have peace of mind, for we have made the necessary preparations.
