FOOLISH OR WISE; ARE YOU READY?
Though we are similar, we are all not getting in…
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you; I don’t know you.’
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
In the Kingdom of God, the coming of the Bridegroom is very paramount. Citizens of the Kingdom of God, are those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour; amongst them are the Foolish and the Wise.
But the beauty is that; they all have Lamps – The Word of God: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path…” Both the foolish and the wise, have access to the Word of God through Jesus Christ. It is this Lamp that keeps Kingdom people within the boundaries of the Kingdom, and that also enables them to live in obedience to Kingdom principles, thereby appropriating Kingdom wealth and enjoying Kingdom benefits.
But, they don’t all have Extra oil. It is the Extra oil that differentiates the Foolish from the Wise – “The Holy Spirit”. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”.
The Bridegroom will be long in coming, he even hinted that no one knows the hour of His return, only the Father knows. But that He will come back; is definite. Notwithstanding, while waiting, everyone will fall asleep at some point; and when He returns, we will all hear the call and awake. But not everyone will be able to go in with Him to the banquet. This is because, even though we may all have some similarities, we are not the same.
SIMILARITIES
- All Virgins
- Each have Lamps
- Lamps with oil
- All waiting for the Bridegroom
- Will all fall asleep
- Will all hear the call,
- They all woke up and trimmed their lamps
DIFFERENCE
- Having Extra Oil
The virgins were not the same, even though they shared so many similarities, it did not take away the fact that some were Wise, and others foolish. Therefore, the need to be careful, and focus solely on the leading of the Holy Spirt, cum study of the Word of God. Do not mistake WORKS with WALK. It is only those that Walk with God that will be ready for Him when he returns. Note, the scripture says; “… and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut”.
On that day, it will seem unfair! And only those who ARE READY, are the ones that will go in with Him. Now is the time to prepare.
