“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Matthew 25:1
From instruction received in the Word we know the tale of the ten virgins and their lamps. Don't be foolish like the five who brought no oil for their lamps we are taught, and so we strive to keep our cupboards full and our refrigerators stocked. Does this parable teach us to be selfish with our oil? For at the exact moment of their greatest need, half of the bridesmaids were refused any sharing. As is the case with our Lord's parables, it is not so simple as that. We know from other teachings from our Lord about God's provision, and this is not about provision.
The world teaches us to accuse, kind of goes with the title of the prince of this world, aka the Accuser of the Brethren. We easily are moved by the flesh to find fault with the prepared virgins for not sharing with the foolish virgins. However, the parable is about a choice we all must make. Note that the ten virgins go out together to await the coming of the bridegroom. He appears to the virgins to be late, delayed by what they do not know and does not come at a decent hour. (Odd how the flesh seems to forget to accuse the bridegroom in this case.) Also, all of the virgins lay down to sleep together and all of them trimmed their lamps together. Caught unprepared at the midnight cry, the five virgins run to the store, at midnight no less, to purchase oil for their lamps. All the ten virgins did things together except in this one thing: choosing to take oil in their vessels with their lamps.
The choice is to believe in the Son of God or to be caught unprepared when His time comes. It is not about sharing, for there was always plenty of oil for all in the story, it is about being prepared while the door to the wedding hall is still open. A time will come when the gates of Heaven are shut up and closed down. The wedding of the Lamb and His Bride will take place and there will be some people left out. The parable is about those who want all the benefits of Heaven, but do not want to acknowledge the ruler of Heaven, the Son of God, as their Savior and Lord. The foolish virgins want to go their way and refuse His way until it is too late. The midnight cry sounds and they are found outside. We live in the time of choosing, but it will not last forever.
Our Lord wants to save all ten virgins; we who believe in Him want all of us to be there for His great wedding; the Holy Spirit of God works tirelessly to spread the oil of Christ around to every lamp. Choose now, before the midnight cry.
Love in Christ,Bucky
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