INTIMACY WITH JESUS

INTIMACY WITH JESUS 

"The Parable of the Ten Virgins. 

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘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.’

10 “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.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

(Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV). 

Get ready for the bridegroom is coming soon. Be wise, be ready, and keep watch with Jesus and trim your lamps, filled with your anointing oil of the Holy Spirit.  Be filled with His Spirit.  Stay in prayer.  Stay awake and alert in prayer. Don't get drowsy and fall asleep.

Matthew Henry's commentary states:

"Believers are now betrothed to Christ (Hos. 2:19); but the solemnizing of the marriage is reserved for the great day, when the bride, the Lamb’s wife, will have made herself completely ready, Rev. 19:7, 9."

He is coming soon.  The virgins espoused to Christ in the parable are the professors of the religion, the Christian faith. Get ready for your bridegroom Jesus. Jewish weddings traditionally have ten witnesses as did Ruth and Boaz. Jesus is your heavenly Boaz. Your kinsman redeemer. The word 'Virgins' denotes the bride's purity and beauty. The church is the loyal spouse of Jesus.  The virgins love, long, and look for Christ's coming, and their chief concern is to have lights in their hands in attending the bridegroom.  To light the way, to honour Him, and to serve Him. Christians are children of the light.  The gospel is light to those who receive it and therefore it must enlighten us.  Christians must shine their lights forth. 

Note, that there are five wise virgins.  They had oil in their lamps. The five wise virgins excelled in godly wisdom and had good principles within their hearts.  The heart is where the wisdom of God is furnished.  Therefore, they would keep up their profession.  

On the other hand, the five foolish virgins had no oil. They had no good principles within them.  They were hypocrites.  They had a lamp of profession but did not have it in their hearts.  They did not have a stock of sound knowledge and wisdom from God, rooted dispositions, and settled resolutions which are needed for the trials of their present state. Instead, they are void of spiritual life and under the influence of external things instead of the spiritual things of God.  In other words, their seed (the word of God) is on stony ground and does not take root in their hearts. They have no prospects and make no provision for what is to come.  Therefore, their thoughtlessness is the ruin of many. They do not provide for the hereafter or the time to come. They were foolish and careless virgins. Their lamps had gone out. 

So be wise and keep your lamp burning for Jesus. Be the light. He is the light. Jesus is coming back for a spotless bride. 

I believe in these last days people will be desperately seeking genuine wise virgins. Learn from them and buy your own oil. Do not let Jesus say these sad words to you, "I don't know you." Stay in close intimacy with Jesus. Stay watchful. Stay diligent. Stay in prayer. 

Sharon