Virgins, Lamps, Oil and Wicks

Matthew 25:1-5, 13 - Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Jesus told a parable about 10 virgins awaiting the bridegroom. In summary, as mentioned above five were wise, five foolish. The bridegroom here is Jesus, whom these virgins are awaiting. Today those virgins would be followers of Christ and among those who say they follow, half only think they are.

The parable continues stating that these virgins were to always be ready for the bridegroom to return. Their lamps were to be filled with oil and the wicks trimmed. This is my interpretation: without light we cannot see. In the darkness we aren't easily aware of the circumstances around us.

Among those people (men and women) who call themselves believers and ardent followers of Christ, some have grown weary of waiting for His return. Is He really going to? We read He is but it's been thousands of years and He has not yet done so. And they stop watching for Him and let the things of the world become greater than the watchfulness. Our wicks are to be ever trimmed and oil replenished as we wait on the Lord's return.

I think even the Church in general has grown weary of waiting and have fallen asleep like in the rest of the parable. I know this: the world in general has heard before that Jesus is to return only to not see it happen. So the world has settled into a euphoric life of self, self determination and belief that we can pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and bounce back yet again from the troubles we are seeing. And I'm not talking about those who proclaim that Jesus will return on a specific date. The Bible says we cannot know the day or hour, only that He WILL.

I have hinted at for a good amount of time the idea that our days are numbered. News shows the unrest, evil and sin in this world...at least on stations that do not try to hide from the real news. There is good going on but bad seems to be most prevalent. My mind is in a constant state of what I can only describe as watchfulness as the news daily unfolds.

I'm not depressed and don't believe fearful. I'm just waiting for that one thing that totally stands out over all others. That one hint that will grasp the attention of the world that maybe, just maybe, God is trying to get our attention. He's got mine. Has He got yours is the bigger question.

On the other hand, it may not be that ONE big thing. It will be an individual thing, specific to each person that will get their attention focused more on God. It will be crises in lives that will bring person by person to a point here they will ask the question Why is this happening and what is this that is going on on?? It will be sickness, death, loss (of job, house), disaster. Something like this helps to point some to God. Sometimes, sadly, it still doesn't.

That one big thing will be the return of Christ. In the twinkling of an eye. Those who truly believe what the Bible says are vigilant. We see the signs. We wait and we watch. And if God's desire is for you, He can bring trials to hopefully point you to Him...it's up to you to decide if you want to trust Him then and begin the process of waiting and watching for Him.

I am reminded of the scriptures that tells us this is what the world will be like when Christ returns.
2 Peter 3:3 - Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts...
2Timothy 3:2-5 - People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Hey, these are the Words of God telling us this, not mine. If one believes the Bible is the truth these words cannot be disputed. They can't be ignored or pushed aside as irrelevant. His Word is timeless. Not everyone in the world is like this...but a majority is according to God's Word.

We must also continue living as we do until He returns...being ever vigilant. We cannot just shut our lives down and wait. We must still be about our Father's business. Enjoy life, yes...but DO NOT forsake God. It doesn't mean we hole ourselves up. We have a right to righteously enjoy life, just not be totally oblivious to what is happening around us and certainly not being those people shown in 2Timothy 3.

There will always be scoffers and I wonder what it will take for them to finally see, if they will. I do know that there will be a time when all righteous people will be removed from earth if they are still alive. One day they will vanish, taken up by Jesus. I can't imagine the horror on that day..the disasters caused as a result of the disappearance of so many...in an instant.

I would want to know the truth about the last days. I would want I understand about the virgins, the lamps, oil and wicks. I would want the light of truth in my life. Jesus is the Light of the world. When you know Him you know the truth.

We have been given the knowledge of these things. It is written in the Bible. It is not kept hidden. It is there for all to see. Even the King James Version is written so a sixth grader can understand it. If you want to be prepared like the five wise virgins, seek God and His Word. Start with the Book of John! Get to knowing Jesus.

2Timothy 3:1 - But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.