“Then the kingdo
m of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13
We may not know the hour of our Bridegroom’s return, but we do know that He is near! Are you excited? Are you ready? We are accelerating toward His coming!
Did you notice in this text that all ten of the virgins went out to meet the bridegroom, but only five could proceed with him? Why was that? The reason was that only five were truly prepared with enough oil in their lamps to make the trip. The five foolish virgins asked the prudent virgins to share their oil, but the prudent ones realized that there was not enough oil for everyone. So, while the unprepared went to buy oil, the wedding feast began, and the doors were shut when they arrived, and they were refused entry. Jesus then exhorted the reader to be alert and prepared because we do not know the day nor the hour of His coming.
What does the oil represent? All throughout Scripture oil represents the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, priests were anointed with oil, and Kingship was passed on through anointing with oil. In the tabernacle and temple stood the lampstands or menorahs which were always lit with oil symbolic of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as the Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit as a seal or mark signifying that we belong to God. The Spirit takes up residence in our human Spirit and reconnects us to God enabling us to commune with God. The Spirit teaches, comforts, guides, convicts and encourages us as we walk with Him. Sadly, unbelievers do not have the presence of the Holy Spirit in them, so they will not be taken when the Bridegroom returns.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:18 to be continuously filled with the Spirit. We are meant to always experience God through the free flow of His Spirit in and through us. The main problem occurs when we choose to be filled with ourselves and our flesh instead of being emptied of ourselves and freed from our flesh. No two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. We cannot be filled with the Spirit and with our flesh. First, we must choose to deny ourselves by putting off our flesh, and then, we must receive by faith the filling of the Holy Spirit. We also benefit from choosing to set our minds each day on the things above instead of on earthly things. In other words, we need to be in God’s Word and in prayer every day. It’s sad that we are more inclined to make time for daily TV shows than we are to study God’s Word each day.
Keep your eyes on the unfolding events of the Middle East. We need to get the word out to everyone possible. We do not want to leave anyone behind. Our Bridegroom is poised to make His return for His bride the church. How’s your oil supply? Seek to be filled with His Spirit and be ready for His return!
“Lord Jesus, thank You for the Holy Spirit. I choose to be emptied of all that is me. Please show me anything within me that hinders His presence, and show me how to give it over to You. I choose by faith to receive the Spirit’s filling. Thank You for doing all things through me today for Your glory.”