In this parable we see several things. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps, but no extra oil, while the wise had extra oil along with their lamps.
It is interesting to note that as the bridegroom tarried they all became drowsy and slept. This was true for the wise as well as the foolish virgins.
When the cry went out at midnight, "The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet Him", they woke up and trimmed their lamps. Unfortunately the lamps belonging to the foolish virgins had gone out, and they had no extra oil. Asking the wise to share oil with them, they were told to go and buy some, as there was not enough to share.
While they went out to buy more oil, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in to the feast, and the door was shut. It was too late for the foolish virgins who were not prepared
What can we learn from this parable? As I have recently shared, I believe that the Church is about to be blindsided by end times events. It is as though we are for the most part asleep. In a previous post which can be read here, I elaborate on this briefly.
Although there are many end times teachers, and just as many end times theories, it seems like for most of us the last days and the return of Jesus Christ are something seen as far down the road. I believe the Church to some degree is asleep. Far too many of us are unconcerned about future events. Perhaps many of us have been burned out by all of the "Left Behind books" and end times movies that we have been inundated with for the last several decades or so. There has been a lot of hype and a lot of failed date settings, and that just turns people off I'm afraid.
Anyway we find that the wise as well as the foolish both fell asleep as the bridegroom delayed His coming.
There is a day coming upon the whole world as a trap (Luke 21:35). Someday these events will be upon us and we will all be forced out of slumber. Whether or not we have a sufficient supply of oil then will be a matter of spiritual life and death.
One can know all of the end times events, the signs and timelines, but to know these things is no guarantee that one will survive spiritually. We need to cultivate our relationship with Jesus, and we need to be doing that now.
I believe that this is the difference between the wise and foolish virgins referenced in this parable. Oil is used symbolically of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. To be lacking "oil" in this sense when we reach the point of no return in the last days will be tragic.
A saving relationship with Jesus is more than correct understanding of biblical doctrine. While studying the scriptures and discovering the doctrines found therein is fun and exciting, head knowledge by itself is insufficient. If what we learn does not transform our lives it is all in vain.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.
John 14:15-17 KJV
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself unto him.
John 14:21 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come into him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 14:23-24 KJV
Here we see it, or rather hear it in the very words of Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is dependent in a large measure upon our obedience. Don't misunderstand this. This is not about a checklist that we can cross off every time we have obeyed a commandment, as if we can somehow earn the presence of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Spirit by faith, not by the works of the law (Gal 3:1-3, 14), yet salvation is a deliverance from sinning. We must take these words of God to heart as well,
We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:32
Obedience flows out of our love for Christ. It is the outflow of our faith (Gal 5:6).
Through a careless, disobedient lifestyle we can grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). Think of the example of Sampson in the Old Testament. He flirted with sin, presuming that his strength would always be there. One day he woke up, only to discover that the LORD had departed from him, and his strength was gone ( see Judges 16:4-20).
Jesus questioned if He would find faith on the earth at His return (Luke 18:8). He gives this warning in His Olivet discourse,
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."
(Matt 24:12-13)
Days are coming when the deception and treachery will be unparalleled. The Bible warns of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thess 2:3-12). It will take everything to stand firm in our faith. We do not want to wake up like Sampson, and find out our strength is gone. If it is imperative that we are filled with the Holy Spirit in our lives today, how much more when that day arrives.
I firmly believe that scripture interprets scripture. Earlier in His ministry Jesus spoke of another pair of men (see Matt 7:23-27). One was wise, and the other foolish. They both built houses, the wise man built upon a rock, and the foolish man built his house on sand. When disaster struck we can guess what happened. The wise man's house stood firm, while the house of the foolish man collapsed.
Jesus likened the wise man to one who hears His teaching and puts it into practice, while the foolish man is one who does not obey. We can see by this that obedience to Jesus is foundational to maintaining our relationship with Him. An open channel allows the "oil" of the Spirit to flow through our lives and give light to those around us. Sin in the life of a believer will block this flow, hinder our fellowship, and weaken our faith. Confession and repentance is the way to restoration.
Keep the channels open. Do not allow disobedience to block the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. The day will come when there will be no time to "buy" more oil. The bridegroom will come and the door will be shut. When disaster comes will your house stand?
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