"God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep. “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bridegroom’s here! Go out and greet him!’ “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’ “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own. But while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked" - Matthew 25:1-10 (MSG)
A story was told of ten virgins who wanted to meet the bridegroom and attend a grand wedding reception. All the virgins had their lamps lit and fire burning but five of them were wise enough to take extra oil for their lamps. The bridegroom however delayed his coming and all the virgins fell asleep only to wake up at midnight by the announcement that the bridegroom had finally arrived. The five virgins who had no oil then asked the five who had oil to share with them. But the ones with the oil were afraid that the oil wouldn’t be enough to go around. While the five virgins without the oil ran off to the store to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived and met the remaining five virgins who had oil in their lamps. The five wise virgins carrying their lit lamps joyously and greeted the bridegroom.They went with him to the venue of the wedding reception and then the door was shut against the five foolish virgins.
Beloved, it's obvious we are in the midnight hour and many virgins are already fast asleep. They had exhausted the oil in their lamps and their fire may soon be put out. They are no longer living daily with the consciousness that any moment from now, our much awaited bridegroom- Jesus Christ will soon arrive. These foolish virgins (Christians) will be denied access into the kingdom of heaven because their spiritual lamps are completely empty and their fire gone out. Although, they are still deceiving everyone around them that their lamps are burning, but it is obvious that the fire upon their altars cannot roast an ordinary fly. They have lost their fervency, passion and zeal for the Lord and His kingdom.
Friends, please be sincere with yourself. Is your lamp still burning the way it used to burn 2, 5 , 10 , 20 or 30 years ago? Is there still oil in your lamp or you are just running on an empty tank? Are you still burning for the Lord the same way you used to burn for him when you got saved some years ago? What had happened to the fire of your love for God and passion for lost souls or sinners? Is your oil of sanctification and consecration still fresh, full and overflowing as it used to be when you first started this christian race? Are you sure you are not going to end your journey with regrets like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13? If the bridegroom should show up now, where will you be? Will He find you ready for the wedding feast or will you be somewhere roaming about in the shopping malls of life? If your answers to these questions are not in the affirmative, then, I suggest you do something about your life now before the bridegroom arrives. Please go back to the upper room and refill your lamps with fresh oil from above before its too late. Please do not procrastinate, as the bridegroom may return anytime from now.
My prayer is that God will grant us grace to be among the few wise virgins that will attend the grand wedding feast when Christ returns. May His oil of grace and power sustain us and keep us burning for Him till the end of age. May God prepare us and get us ready for that glorious day. The lyrics of a great hymn titled "As Virgins We Must Be Wise And Pure" should be our heart's cry as we trust God to help us finish well and strong. May I urge you to please join me this morning to prayerfully sing this wonderful hymn below as we look forward to the day that the bridegroom (Jesus) will return to usher us into the venue of the Grand Wedding Feast/reception. The hymn was composed by Howard Higachi (1937-1998).
AS VIRGINS WE MUST BE WISE AND PURE
As virgins we must be wise and pure,
So single to You, Lord to grow and mature.
We’re going forth to meet You, our Bridegroom so sweet,
Our touch with You, Jesus, must be intimate.
Chorus
Lord, I love You above all,
Watching hourly lest I fall.
We would buy the oil today.
Lord, prepare us, oh, get us ready!
Not only my lamp, Lord, but my vessel too,
Redeeming the time to be filled up with You.
I’m going forth to meet You, my Bridegroom so dear.
I know then at midnight You’ll soon, Lord, appear.
Lord, make us ready at any cost
Or else at Your coming we’ll suffer great loss.
We don’t want to say, Lord, our lamp’s going out.
Then it is too late when we hear the great shout.
As virgins we’re loving and enjoying You,
Always responding, You’re fresh and so new.
Our spirits You’re filling and soul saturating.
Our lamps and our vessels we surrender to You.
Good morning and have a blessed day.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
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