When Jesus had entered Jerusalem before his death, he told several parables about the kingdom of God.  “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise” (Matt 25:1-2).  In this parable the five foolish virgins failed to enter the kingdom because they did not come prepared with oil.  What struck me about this parable, and the others surrounding it in Matthew’s Gospel, was that it is directed at people who desire to enter the kingdom of God.  Even though the foolish virgins were unprepared, they still wanted to enter the wedding banquet.  It is not a story directed at people who have no interest in the kingdom.

The Jews of Jesus’ time had ideas about what the kingdom of God would be like.  Some assumed that being a Jew would mean automatic entry into the kingdom.  Others believed that it was enough to obey certain human rules in order to gain the favour of God and be let in.  The Gospels tell us that entry to the kingdom requires that we follow the king, who is Jesus.  So many of those people who thought that they would enter the kingdom of God will be excluded, like the five foolish virgins.

But Australia is not like first century Judea.  I look at present day Australia and see a country full of people with no interest whatsoever in the kingdom of God.  Most Australians live as if God were completely irrelevant to their lives.  Either they do not believe he exists or if they do believe in God, he is of no consequence to them.  Australians appear to believe that God has no right to an opinion about what they do with their lives.  These people do not seek to enter the kingdom.  If people do not want to enter the kingdom then how can these stories be preached to them?  We cannot correct their false ideas about the kingdom of God, because they have no interest in God and his kingdom.

This nation is so lost that most people do not know that they are lost.  This has troubled me a lot lately.  Only if the eyes of Australians are opened to their lostness by a sovereign act of the Holy Spirit will this country have any hope of change.  Perhaps the usual Christian preaching cannot reach people who have no desire to go to heaven.  So many people do not believe that there is anything beyond the material world.  This demands concerted intercession.  Before Australia can come to know Jesus, a great deal of prayer is necessary in order to open eyes and hearts.