Got Extra Oil?

Are you waiting and prepared for Christ’s Return?

Ever run out of gas? Ever come close, say, on a long stretch of road posted with one of those signs that says something like, “Last Gas Services for the Next 150 Miles”? In today’s message on the parable of the Ten Virgins or Bridesmaids found in Matt 25:1-12, Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven to be likened unto five wise and five foolish virgins. The five wise took extra oil for their lamps but the five foolish took no extra oil. I believe this is a parable that explains the faithful, true and prepared believers waiting for Christ’s return, perhaps just prior to the rapture of the Church. We are to be watchful and ready for the Son of man cometh – Luke 12:40.

Not everyone that is watching a waiting for Christ’s return will be able to enter the wedding chamber when He returns. Why, you ask? Look at the scripture and let’s see why. All the virgins took lamps which are likened to the Word of God – Psa 119:105, they all went out to meet the bridegroom, they all slept because they were weary, and they all heard the ‘cry’ or shout at midnight when the bridegroom was spotted.They all arose and trimmed their lamps. In other words they trimmed the wick and filled their lamps (or torches) with new oil and were ready for the procession of the bridegroom and party back to his father’s house. But the five foolish ones had no extra oil in which to trim their lamps – they were unprepared. Perhaps they were in a hurry and forgot, or they weren’t concerned that the bridegroom would be delayed. Or maybe they really didn’t care or thought he would never come and were just playing along with the others. Here’s the real sad conclusion after a careful reading of the text …  the five without extra oil could not go and meet the bridegroom (vs 6-9). They had no oil to light the way for the bridegroom. In ancient wedding ceremonies like this it was shameful to be unprepared; going along with the wedding procession was of highest importance in the Jewish wedding ceremony. Can you see now why some church goers or ‘Christians’ may not be able to enter the marriage chamber (heaven) with the bridegroom when he comes?

Many scholars say the oil in this parable is referred to as the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Note, the lamp cannot function without the oil; it is useless. All the virgins in this story represent all the people in churches here on earth just before the Lord comes back. They represent the Church of Christ or the Bride of Christ. They are at church every Sunday, they fellowship, sing, give offerings, and listen to the sermon but they in effect, are cold and empty of God’s Holy Spirit. They are just bodies or hulks with no presence of the Holy Spirit (oil). They do all the right things and speak all the right words but they are spiritually empty. They carry God’s word in their hands but perhaps never read it. They never even spend 5 min alone with God seeking His face. I’m afraid this will be the fate of many ‘church-goers’ or those claiming they are ‘saved’.

Folks, these kinds of people – the five foolish were unprepared and faithless and will not enter God’s rest in heaven when they die or when the Lord comes for His church (rapture). The parable says that when the five foolish came back the door was already shut and the bridegroom said, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”  Not many preachers would dare preach or teach what I have told you today! These words are from Jesus and not from me. This is a serious but nevertheless true principle and consequence of real and fake Christian faith.

Many today, in countless churches have little or no faith that Jesus is coming again. They are not waiting and anticipating His return and are in effect spiritually impotent. Some don’t care and some don’t know what they believe because it is rarely taught in their church. It is time for those of you who perchance identify with the five foolish virgins or bridesmaids and have been playing around with God’s grace and mercy to get right with Him today. You may be able to fool family, friends and the clergy but you cannot fool Almighty God. He can see right through any facade you put on whether you are a pastor, elder, deacon, priest or a church-goer. You must seek the Lord and ask forgiveness and then be filled with His Holy Spirit … every day – Eph 5:18. Remember, if you are truly saved and are filled and sealed with God’s Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14) then your life will reflect this in everything you do and say.

-BPWatcher

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

– 2 Peter 3:11-12

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