In Matthew 25:1-13, we read: “Then the Kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, And the foolish said to the wise,’Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
The wedding plans had been made. The bride, with her maidens in attendance at her home, stayed ready, for one never knew the time of the groom’s arrival. The father of the groom made the plans for the celebration and usually sprinkled them with surprise. The groom could come at midnight, morning or noon. Only one fact let them know of the bridegroom’s arrival. His best man had to precede him and call out, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming.”
At the midnight call, the house became a beehive of activity. The virgins dressed quickly and made ready, trimming their lamps.
The foolish five realized their lamps burned low. They had no reserve. They begged for oil from the wise five but no amount of pleading helped. They would have to go out and buy oil with the hope it could be found at this late hour.
When they returned with their purchases, the door had been shut. They knocked on the door. Locked. No chance to enter.
Sounds like a harsh judgement for the foolish five. My thoughts until I took a closer look. The time they abided at the bride’s home, the foolish five had the opportunity to get oil. They had the outward appearances of the wise five, same clothes, sat at the same table. Probably had the same accent. But things are not as they appear. Their true selves hadn’t been revealed. They could fake it at the bride’s home but not the groom’s. The wedding party took place at the groom’s home. The foolish five didn’t make it to the wedding. The door was shut when they arrived. They were locked out.
Kingdom Thinking. We, the bride, live at the bride’s house. But someday that Midnight Call will sound. The Lord Jesus, our groom, will come. He will carry us to His home--Father’s House. The Lord Jesus loves us with an everlasting love and He has promised never to leave nor forsake us. Do you know Him? He loves you and waits for you.
The wedding plans had been made. The bride, with her maidens in attendance at her home, stayed ready, for one never knew the time of the groom’s arrival. The father of the groom made the plans for the celebration and usually sprinkled them with surprise. The groom could come at midnight, morning or noon. Only one fact let them know of the bridegroom’s arrival. His best man had to precede him and call out, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming.”
At the midnight call, the house became a beehive of activity. The virgins dressed quickly and made ready, trimming their lamps.The foolish five realized their lamps burned low. They had no reserve. They begged for oil from the wise five but no amount of pleading helped. They would have to go out and buy oil with the hope it could be found at this late hour.
When they returned with their purchases, the door had been shut. They knocked on the door. Locked. No chance to enter.
Sounds like a harsh judgement for the foolish five. My thoughts until I took a closer look. The time they abided at the bride’s home, the foolish five had the opportunity to get oil. They had the outward appearances of the wise five, same clothes, sat at the same table. Probably had the same accent. But things are not as they appear. Their true selves hadn’t been revealed. They could fake it at the bride’s home but not the groom’s. The wedding party took place at the groom’s home. The foolish five didn’t make it to the wedding. The door was shut when they arrived. They were locked out.
Kingdom Thinking. We, the bride, live at the bride’s house. But someday that Midnight Call will sound. The Lord Jesus, our groom, will come. He will carry us to His home--Father’s House. The Lord Jesus loves us with an everlasting love and He has promised never to leave nor forsake us. Do you know Him? He loves you and waits for you.
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