Several decades ago, scientists completed a seven year study on bear hibernation, which answered the question, Why do bears go to sleep for the winter when they do? The scientists placed transmitters on plastic collars around some bears’ necks in Yellowstone National Park.

Snow begins in early autumn at Yellowstone, but it always melts again to give way to warm, pleasant weather. The researchers kept very close track of the transmitter-carrying bears from late summer to their entrance into their winter sleep. On September 15 of that year the temperature dropped to -11C and the cold spell lasted for 8 days. But the bears did not move from their summer areas. They did begin to sleep more, however. A month later a quiet snow fell, and the bears went to their dens but did not go inside. In fact, one female was observed sitting quietly on a ledge, seemingly fighting sleep. Then, on November 11, a storm broke loose, and all the bears promptly entered their dens for the winter. What had they been waiting for? Apparently, the final signal was drifting snow that would cover their tracks as they hurried to their dens.

Hibernation is nature’s way of protecting bears against a cold, foodless winter. The preparations they make for sleep are most important. They eat and eat, storing up fat that can be used during the long winter nap. Generally, the bear that has eaten the most, and is therefore fatter, will sleep more soundly than the slimmer bear. The more fat stored, the more peaceful the sleep.

Jesus told a parable as part of his end of the world second coming sermon where he pictured the church represented by 10 young women. All believed in the coming wedding and the arrival of the groom, but he was delayed, and they slept. The groom (Jesus) showed up at midnight (the world’s darkest hour). Unfortunately, half of those who, while believing in the coming wedding, were not prepared for the delay. Like the skinny bears for winter, 5 of these women had made insufficient spiritual preparation for the delay and the dark hour. The parable tragically ends with them being shut out of the wedding. You can read the story in Matthew 25:1-13. Evidently, according to v12, there is more to entering the kingdom of Heaven than just showing up at the door.