January is often a month of reflection and resolutions. Reflecting on the past can be good if we apply it to improving our future. I was recently reminded of how fragile life is. The news reported that a billionaire and his family perished in a helicopter crash. He had plans in 2010 to spearhead the construction of a 52 storey building. Yet all his plans came to a sudden, unexpected halt. Whenever I hear of tragedies, I immediately ask myself: Did they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour? Then I pray for the family left behind.
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.'
" '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.'
"But while they were one 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.
"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus warns us repeatedly in the Gospels to be ready for His return. It is not enough to be invited. It is not enough to seem prepared-we must BE prepared. The Parable of the Ten Virgins makes this very clear. It is imperative to have oil on hand so that we are ready to fill our lamps. The lamps will light the way. The light will allow us to see in the darkness, illuminating the path to the banquet hall door. The groom will come when it is dark, at the midnight hour. The door will only be open for a limited time. Then it will be shut. I shudder at the reality of a closed door and ask myself, 'Which 'virgin' am I?'
Isaiah 55:6 reminds us to, "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near."
What do you think the oil and the lamp represent? What can we do as Christians to be prepared? What hinders us from having at attitude of readiness? Can we help one another as we wait patiently? Please click on the comments link below to share your thoughts. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our BGO 2010 resolution is to help the body of Christ be in a state of readiness. No one knows the time nor the hour. It could be now or it could hundreds of years from now. Yet the instruction from Jesus remains the same. Be Ready!
2 comments:
I think the Lamp in this parable represents the Word of God.
Psalm 119:105 says,
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path."
The Holy Spirit represents the oil. The Holy Spirit brings revelation of God's Word to our inner man. We gain spiritual understanding so that the Lamp with the oil lights the way for us to see through the darkness to Jesus. We become discerning of His will.
John 14:26
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things.."
I also think the lamp in this parable represents the Word of God. I also agree that the Holy Spirit is the oil.
I was telling friend last month ... even if Jesus does not come for hundreds more years, our lives will still be evaluated according to our state of readiness.
Did we take Him seriously?
Were we standing in readiness for when He would come like a thief?
Did we help others to be prepared?
Did we invest our lives in things eternal? Or did we squander much of it in temporal pursuits?
Did we get to know the Word of God? Were we faithful with what we learned and heard?
Did we learn how to recognize His voice?
Did we recognize and shun the voice of the flesh, the world and the enemy whenever they called?
Thank you BGO for these reality checks ... and your efforts to help the Body of Christ to be fully prepared.
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