Whirly-Gigs and Wheezing; Now is the Time to Think Ahead

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

The ground is covered in sprouting whirly-gigs, millions of them. Like a soft carpet, another billion tiny particles of fine yellow pollen blanket everything. They’ve got me shut inside, windows tightly closed, medicated around the clock, sipping on tea spiked with local (supposedly anti-allergy bursting) honey, breathing in and out with an albuterol inhaler close at hand.

It’s finally springtime in West Michigan. And I am allergic, miserable, and short of breath.

A few months ago, it was late summer in West Michigan and I received an email permission slip from my general practitioner to see an allergist. A prized referral. I didn’t follow-up. Who needs to see an allergist? I was fine.

Of course I was fine, it was late summer and not springtime. Aside from stupidity (which I think is ok to write if I am referring to my own actions), I don’t know what else this failure signifies.

[I am going to straight up preach the gospel here…if you’d like to tap out with a click, now is the time, although whirly-gigs and fine yellow pollen are coming for you too.]

Jesus shares a short story in Matthew 25 about ten young women waiting for the bridegroom. Five of the women are prepared to wait, five are not. Five are ready when it is time to go into the wedding banquet and meet their beloved bridegroom. The other five are off trying to find what they lacked. When they return to the banquet the door is shut. (Imagine for a minute a distraught bride knocking to get into her wedding and the door doesn’t open.)

Jesus shares a similar story in the same chapter of Matthew. This parable is about a man who is preparing for a journey. Before departing, the man entrusts five talents (money) to one of his servants, two talents to another, and one talent to a third. The man leaves and then “after a long time” (vs. 19) the man returns to settle accounts with his three servants. While the man was gone the first and second servant doubled their share. The man replies with affirmation, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21 & 23)

“Come and share your master’s happiness!” What a great invite!

What happened to the servant who had been entrusted with one talent? Well, once the man left, he buried the talent so as to not lose it. He returned the same talent to his master upon his return. The man’s response to the one talent servant who made no return on his investment was not so great. The servant’s failure to be faithful to what he had been given resulted in him being thrown out. Thrown “into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”, (Matthew 25:30) specifically.

“Thrown in to the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Not a great invite (I didn’t even want to write it).

What does this have to do with me and you, and sprouting whirly-gigs that are taking my breath away?

Well, Jesus is using these stories to answer a question from His disciples. “‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?'” (Matthew 24:3). His answer, be prepared.

I am not declaring “end times”. When I think of “end times” I tend to go to Genesis 18 and understand that God’s patience (i.e., long-suffering) far exceeds my personal ability to endure chaos and evil. But end times for me or for you could be later this evening or tomorrow, or the day after that. It’s good to be prepared.

The first way to be prepared is to know Jesus, acknowledging that He is the only way. He is the Bridegroom, the one who sends the invitations.

• Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
• “I tell you the truth, I (Jesus) am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7)
• “I (Jesus) am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
• “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

If you are reading this and you don’t know Jesus (and you didn’t tap out), consider this one of those voice inside of your head, how did I land on this page, invites. He is inviting you. You are invited. The Bridegroom has invited you to the banquet. How do you accept His invitation? Say yes in that quiet voice inside of your head kind of way. Then say yes later today, and then tonight and then tomorrow. Say yes over and over again and He will show you how to get to the banquet. He will show you the next step, landing you exactly where you need to be, surrounding you with those who will help you know the way. The Bridegroom happens to be sovereign, and once you give Him a yes, He won’t let you go. So it works out (long and winding, but it works out).

The second way to be prepared, if you already know Jesus and He is more than a tap, tap, tapping on the inside of your head voice, is to use what He has given you to invest in His kingdom. What is Jesus’s kingdom? His kingdom is His people, His bride. His people then, His people now, and His people tomorrow. The joy set before Jesus Christ as He endured the cross was His kingdom. Jesus has loved you, love others. Jesus has covered you in grace, give others grace. Jesus has been your provision, be the provision for others. Jesus has been merciful to you, be merciful to others. Jesus has forgiven you, forgive others. Jesus has invited you, invite others.

If I had acted on that prized allergist referral, I’d be outdoors mowing the grass that has far exceeded an acceptable height. I’d be enjoying this cool spring evening, happily inhaling pollenated West Michigan air without care or concern, pulling up sprouting whirly-gigs from my flower beds. Don’t disregard your invitation to know Jesus, thinking you’re fine, everything’s fine. Fine and redeemed are totally different things. If you’ve said yes to your invitation, don’t disregard your purpose. Jesus left His precious kingdom in the hands of His followers. Live to share in your Master’s happiness.

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Matthew 25:23