Matthew 25
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Here Jesus reveals His heart to us.
He illustrates it with 10 virgins, waiting for the bridegroom. All had their lamps with them. From the outside they all looked the same. But the difference was, there were some who were foolish – they did not prepare for a delay, and had no extra oil. At midnight the cry was heard, “the bridegroom is coming”. And when they woke up to meet Him, it became clear who were wise and who were foolish. The foolish had no extra oil with them, and so their lamps went out.
Today too, there are those who have the appearance of being children of God, but deep inside they are foolish – they are not prepared.
The wisdom of God is different to the wisdom of this world. Some accomplish much through the wisdom of this world. But one day the truth will be revealed.
What does the oil stand for? The oil represents spiritual growth and the sweetness of God’s victory over sin.
Is God’s oil in your life? If not, it’s time to cry to God with all your heart – not half-heartedly – to give you that oil before it’s too late. Cry to God while there is still time. When God gives you an opportunity today to still get oil, make use of it. When God commands you to repent, you need to fear and obey, as there might not be another time. If you persist in sin, there will come a time when it will be too late to repent. You don’t know when that time for your life is. When God points out some sin in your life, it means you have to deal with it immediately and not the following day, month or year.
Tell Jesus all of your troubles. Do not listen to your heart, which wants to put it off, for the Bible says that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Obey God’s Word.
When God comes it is important that you are ready with your lamp and extra oil, burning for the Lord.
What are you doing for your Lord and Master? Maybe you’re 40 or 60 years old and if you look back, you have to admit that your life has been fruitless. Will you meet Him like that?
Whatever you do, do that which will have eternal value. Spend time with your Lord to learn His will. And if there’s a blockage because of sin, sort it out today, so that the Blood of the Lord Jesus might do its work in your life.