Keep the Oil in your lamp!

Matthew 25:1-13 is the story of ten people who waited on the groom to arrive before they went to celebrate the wedding. Five were wise and stayed ready, with their lamps full of oil. Five were foolish and were not prepared when the groom arrived. Most people are familiar with the story being called “the parable of the ten virgins.”

 A few details stand out.

• In the Bible, oil represents the Spirit of God.
• The people in the story were referred to as virgins, meaning they were pure.
• The people were responsible for keeping their lamps full and ready.
• Ten people were waiting and watching for the groom’s arrival, but only five were ready.
• The groom’s arrival represents Jesus’ return.

I was thinking about this story today and conviction struck the core of me. If the people in the story represent the church, or believers, only half of us are ready for Jesus’ return. If the oil represents the Spirit of God, and the lamps represent our souls, then we must be filled with the Spirit of God, or we will not be ready for Jesus’ return. Those who were ready went with the groom, but those who were not ready were locked out.

Are you filled with the Spirit of God? Does God know you intimately? If not, be wise, go now and get the oil in your lamp. Keep it full. Get ready. Jesus is coming soon. Be ready to go with Him. Know Him and be filled with His Spirit.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.