The Door Will be Shut

Matthew 25:9-10 - "But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut."

There is a lot of scripture on wisdom and foolishness in the Bible. God lets us know in uncertain terms the difference between the two and the results of our choices. In this instance we are shown ten virgins, five wise and five foolish. Five were ready for the return of the Bridegroom. They had their lamps filled with oil and the wicks trimmed. Five knew He would be coming but were lax in their preparation.

Of course this is an example of being prepared for the return of Jesus. They await His glorious coming. As I read this scripture above, what stood out this time was sending the unprepared virgins out for their own supply of oil. I thought, There are some who might say the wise should have shared the oil they had. These wise virgins were completely prepared. The not so wise who knew hoped to come, at the last minute, with the help of someone else who had been faithfully waiting. While we are to help the poor, there comes a time when they must try on their own...in this case, receive Christ on their own.

Some know, have heard, Christ is returning and they await, prepared for His glorious coming. Others have heard, they know, but they continue believing they do not need to be prepared...after all Christ's return has been talked about for so many years and it has not happened. But, He will come as a thief in the night. We must be prepared. It is an individual thing, a decision only the individual can make. 

So here we are, as in the days of Noah...people will be eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but not so ready for His return. As also in those days, Noah was prepared (he built the ark, gathered the animals, stocked it) and he strongly urged the others, offered them safety on the Ark. But they did not heed the warning. They scoffed.

There comes a time when it's just too late for someone to help another. One has to go directly to the Lord. Like the door of the Ark was closed and those who did not heed perished, as will be the door to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9). Once that door is closed, it's closed. No more invitations. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

We are all invited, but only some will attend. Only some will be ready. Whether one is wise or foolish, our God's words are true and He never changes. One must be wise to enter into the Kingdom. One must be ready. One must seek the Lord personally. One must be born again in the Spirit and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If one is not, God shuts the door.  

--Remember, Jesus is also known as the Door--we enter through Him alone--

Matthew 25:11-12 - “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’"