Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus said ''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, 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. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 ''But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 ''Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, we don't want to miss meeting you. We don't want to miss out on the great heavenly banquet. If there is foolishness in us, forgive, correct and deliver us, dear Lord! Teach us to live wisely, with the fires of our faith kindled by Your Spirit, fuelled by your word, and burning brightly for your glory. Amen!
A car usually gives some warning when it's about to break down. Usually we can prevent breakdowns through regular maintenance. One of the most basic things we need to do, is check the oil. I do not know much about engines, but I understand that an engine needs oil to run properly. If the oil get too low, the engine might overheat, and stop functioning.
In the middle of the night, the 5 foolish girls in Jesus' parable, found their lamps were going out, because they didn't have enough oil. It was something they should have checked. They should have been ready for, but they weren't.
Some things we can prepare for. But some things can take us by surprise: Are we ever ready for tragedies, such as car accidents, sudden health complications, fierce hailstorms, or terrorist bombings? Our Lord tells us to "keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
Sudden disasters that take life happen regularly. We tend to think they only happen to other people, and in other places. But we can be sure that sooner or later, whether suddenly, or over time, our own time will come. You do not know the day or the hour in which you too will slip into eternity, and stand before the judgement throne of God. Keep watch, Jesus tells us. Keep watch - be ready.
This might seem a gloomy thought. But the picture Jesus paints in his parable also speaks of expected joy: a wedding feast! 10 young women eagerly await the bridegroom, ready to celebrate his coming and light his path with their lamps (or we could say, torches.) They have a role in the festivities, and their light is needed. How embarrassing and distressing, then, for those 5 foolish girls to find that their oil had run out, with no way of getting more except to go and find oil-seller, to buy more oil, hoping that he would be agreeable, despite being woken up in the middle of the night. But even worse than their embarrassment, is what they found on returning: the door was shut. their cries were useless - the bridegroom didn't recognise them, and had not way of distinguishing them from would be gate-crashers who had no right to be there.
There was joy for the wise girls, who were ready. They got to enjoy the banquet, but the foolish ones missed out. What was the difference? The difference was, the wise girls had been prepared for the long wait, and so had been careful to bring extra oil.
Now we all will want to be in the company of those wise girls. None of us wants to miss out. We hate to think of anyone missing out. Here, and other places in the Scriptures, God points out plainly, that some will be saved, and the rest will be lost. Is this harsh? Not so, because those who missed out in Jesus' parable, did so through their own fault. God is not unfair. He has provided a way for all to be saved: this is through his Son, Jesus Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom. Hear the Words of God as he sets forth for each of us, his acceptable way of salvation:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me."
The jailer at Phillipi asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:31 gives their reply: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
Hebrews 7:25 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him..."
This Gospel is being proclaimed in many ways throughout the world! We must leave with God that difficult question of what happens to those who do not have the opportunity to hear the gospel. Instead, we need to be sure that none of us misses out on the blessings God has for us in His Word. We also have a responsibility to give people the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel, and in various ways we are doing this.
The foolish girls in Jesus parable, are called foolish, because they chose not to bring extra oil with them. Earlier that day, they would have had the opportunity to get extra oil, but they didn't take this opportunity. They thought they'd be ok. How many people in this world think they will be ok?! We stand on the edge of eternity, and so many - including many who profess to be Christians - are indifferent.
The foolish ones took lamps, but no oil. their lamps may have had some oil in them already, but it wasn't enough. They lamps were failing. We could think of this first lot of oil as our own efforts, which will always fail. There is no goodness within us that can sustain the light of our faith, or keep us living as children of light. The only thing that can kindle and sustain our faith, is God's Word, applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Where can we get this good oil? We get it from God himself. Unlike the oil that the foolish girls had to go off to buy, God's supply is available right here, right now, and doesn't cost us anything. He's paid for it, through his obedience and suffering. On the cross, Christ suffered the shut door of God's judgement on our sins. Because of what our bridegroom has done for us, we may enter freely the door of his father's house, and join the heavenly banquet. This is the good news, the good oil, and no other oil is needed. God's supply is sufficient; it is without cost, and will last the distance.
How grateful we are, that God in his mercy, has given us his gospel, and holds his door open to us - and to all who accept his gracious invitation. Let's make sure we are ready, by checking that we have the oil of God's gospel in our lives - it is God's Word, no less, the Word of grace mercy and forgiveness. The time will come, when we won't be able to share this life-giving oil any longer. On that day, those who have rejected God's supply, will miss out on his banquet. Until then, let us soak up God's gospel, and share it with anyone we can, so that in that day, they too may find the door of heaven, open. May God grant this to us all. Amen!
May the peace of God, which is beyond our human understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.