As
I concluded our previous message with these words: ‘Will you not please make a
commitment in your heart to prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom?’ the
parable of the wise and foolish virgins crossed my mind. Therefore we are going
to look at it today. You will find the passage in Matthew 10:1-13 and at this
link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:1-13&version=NIV1984.
Please read it before continue reading this.
As
I prayed about this message during the past couple of days a few thoughts
occurred to me about the virgins. Since the parable is about what the Kingdom
of God is going to be like during ‘those days’ as Jesus put it, we are going to
look at this passage from that perspective. In the previous chapter Jesus spoke
about the signs of the end of the age, and ‘those days’ therefore refer to the
end of the age. If you haven’t concluded yet that we are very close to the end
of the age and that Jesus is coming soon, you may want to start looking out for
the signs. I am not one of the prophets that would pinpoint a date for Jesus’
coming, since only Father God knows when, but I am quite convinced that it will
be still in our lifetime.
So,
let’s look at the virgins. First of all they were virgins, who were undefiled
and pure. As Christians we were made undefiled and pure through the blood of
Jesus and every time we confess our sins we are pure again. “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9). These virgins
therefore represent Christians living during the end times, awaiting the coming
of the Lord Jesus.
The
virgins had lamps with them. I don’t know what the traditional meaning of lamps
was during wedding ceremonies in those days, but what I do know is that with
regard to the Kingdom in these days we read in Matthew 5:14-16: “You
are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put
it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven.” The lamps therefore represent our testimony and our
gift with which we are to glorify the Lord or the Bridegroom. In order for the
lamps to keep burning oil is needed as we have seen in this parable. The
foolish virgins ran out of oil for they were not prepared.
Generally
oil represents anointing in the Bible, so in order for the lamps of our gifts
to keep burning it needs to be fed with anointing. Without the Holy Spirit’s
anointing our gifts are powerless and will function by earthly wisdom and
effort. How do we then obtain the anointing of the Holy Spirit? The foolish
virgins had to go and buy some oil, obviously at the same place where the wise
virgins obtained theirs earlier. We obtain our anointing the same way, except
we don’t need to pay for it. Read Isaiah 55 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2055&version=NIV1984
and note a few passages: “Listen,
listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear
and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live” (verses 2-3), and “Seek
the Lord while he may be found; call
on him while he is near” (verse 6).
The Holy Spirit anoints
those who seek Him and obeys in
faith, those who choose to let their lights shine. If we are careless and
aloof, just living our religious lives, not really interested in serving and
glorifying the King of kings with the gift He gave us for that purpose, we will
be without oil when the Bridegroom arrives and will not enter with Him. I have
heard of a pastor with the anointing for healing who slid back into a sinful
life of alcoholism, but in his drunken state would pray for people and they got
healed. God is faithful even though we are unfaithful (2 Timothy 2:13). He
doesn’t look at our religious pretence, but whether our hearts call out for Him
every moment of every day, seeking to be obedient.
Lord, show me what to do
to be ready when you come.
Thank you Lord that your Word went
out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you
empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which
you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may
benefit by it.
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