With Joy and expectation the bridegroom He’s ready for the bride to be ready. Without spot or wrinkle, clean all the way through, dresses to the hilt, and all things in place. But, only God the Father of the Groom knows when that day will be.
But He is coming SOON!
In this story ten (10) virgins wait to accompany the bride to her wedding. They have been in preparation for a long while. Tradition says, it will be a surprise when the Groom comes, but everyone is expected to be ready knowing that this time will surely come.
As Christians we profess that we are waiting for His coming. Sincere Christians are the five, wise, and ready virgins. Lazy, are the five, foolish, unprepared virgins. We often attend to the needs of our souls in much the same manner as these virgins, be we wise or foolish.
We have a lamp of profession in our hands and in our mouth, but does it come close to our hearts? We must have sound knowledge and be settled in our resolve to follow Jesus if we are to make it through the trials we face everyday, before the wedding takes place.
Our light of truth and good works must shine before the people we live with everyday. But these works will not be long lasting if our hearts are not fixed tight with faith in the everlasting Word of God, and the steadfastness and truth of Jesus Christ - the bridegroom. Our hearts must be filled with love for the people around us.
We are in the delay time. The time when we know the bridegroom is coming. The scripture said, as the Lord delayed His coming the virgins slept. What are we doing in the delay? The Bible says we are to occupy until He comes. What does that word mean – live in, inhabit, dwell. That suggest that we are not just taking up space but living, cleaning, making beautiful, getting ready that area where we are expecting the bridegroom to come.
Are we ready to meet Him? No matter how long the delay, He is coming. By death or by the taking up of His church – Jesus is coming.
The wise virgins bought enough supplies to last them during this extended delay. The Bible says they kept their lamps burning. They were lighting the way for the bridegroom to see. The Bible says they slept. There is a time for rest and refreshing. But sleep also can represent spiritual decay. If we sleep too much, we forget about the tasks that are at hand and are not ready when the party starts. When we sleep too much we are in a state of neglect, and cannot hear the summons that is being made. We cannot hear the rustling of woods around us, that tell us of the approaching of the anticipated wedding party.
In the far distance the call came. Wake up, Wake up, the bridegroom approaches! Come forth to meet Him. No time to get ready, He is here. We must be ready when that call comes. Even the best prepared for physical death still have work to do. 2 Peter 3:14, Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
How shall we then be found? Each one of us can only answer for ourselves. The five wise virgins bought enough oil to burn and still continue the journey to the wedding ceremony.
The five foolish virgins who were not prepared, represent Christians today who have an outward profession. It may be enough to light up parts of the world around you, but not enough to carry through the damp, dark times we all will face on our journey through life, through the shadows of death. It’s time to wake up before the oil burns out, and darkness overshadows us.
Satan waits for the foolish, the unprepared, the unstable and lazy that would rather go along on someone else’s faith or what they heard. It’s too hard to oil the lamp by studying the Word of God. They find they don’t have time to talk to, or listen for voice of the Lord through developing a prayer-life. They cannot find time to fellowship and grow by being around Christians. Their time for development is spent in the clubs, casino’s, in front of the TV watching ministers, and people who are in the audience doing what they should be doing. These professed Christians are everywhere but in the presence of other Christians and the Lord.
WAKE UP before the oil burns out of your lamp, and darkness overshadows you.
Those virgins who were prepared are those who will be saved. The oil represents the grace. It may seem selfish but when the foolish virgins asked for the others to share their oil; they said no or we will not have enough to take us to our journey’s end. Those who have the most grace have none to spare; their need for Christ is continuous – not part-time.
The poor, alarmed virgins who have not prepared, panics at the sound of the summons; “He’s coming and we’re not ready.” It’s time to wake up. Only you and the Lord know the condition your heart. Only you and the Lord know have you done your best to prepare, or are you sleeping and making excuses. Oh, Please WAKE UP!
The church full of unrepentant sinners who refuse time and time again to prepare for this great wedding, in which the prepared church are the bride. The Bible says each of us are the church. Our bodies are the temple where the Holy Spirit of God dwells. If we are not prepared we are lost forever, separated from the bridegroom for an eternity, never to come into the presences of God again until that great Judgment Day when we attempt to answer for why we did not prepare. But the record will show the many times we have had the opportunities to be ready and yet we refused.
But right now, this afternoon while you hear these words, or read them now in 2007, there is still time to get your lamps trimmed and burning. Fill your lamp today with the holy oil of forgiveness and love of Jesus. He is still on His throne, but has sent Holy Spirit as a guide to show each of us the way to the bridegroom, to Jesus.
In the tradition of that day, the virgins who were not prepared, they either had to stay behind or go to try and find oil for their lamps. Once the wedding party came to the Father’s house the gates were shut and locked. All who did not come in with the party could not get in. The door to the house was shut and bolted.
Many will seek admission to heaven, but it will be too late if we have not prepared here.
For the Christian whose heart has been prepared, the suddenness of death is expected, and they will proceed without delay to meet the bridegroom in all of His glory. Jesus Himself gives the warning, WATCH!
This was my trial sermon.
© Copyright 2006 Jay (UN: sparklejj at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
