IS YOUR FIRE OUT?

"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...." - Matthew 25:1-10 (MSG)

Ten virgins wanted to meet the bridegroom and attend a grand wedding reception. 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 round. While the five virgins without the oil ran off to the store to buy, the bridegroom arrived and met the remaining five virgins who had oil in their lamps. The five wise virgins carrying their lit lamps joyously 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, we are in the midnight hour and many virgins are already fast asleep. They have 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 have succeeded in 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? What has happened to the fire of your love for God and passion for lost souls or sinners? Is your oil of sanctification still fresh, full and overflowing as it used to be when you first started this Christian race? 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. 

The lyrics of this hymn below should be our heart's cry as we trust God to help us finish well and strong.

AS VIRGINS WE MUST BE WISE AND PURE By Howard Higachi

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.

My prayer is that God will keep us ready at all cost so that we will not suffer a great loss when Christ returns. 

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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