Watch ye therefore, and always pray, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36
INTRODUCTION
When Jesus was on earth, he was endowed with several supernatural ways of preaching with parables. This style of preaching or teachings makes it easy to communicate much better with his audience, especially when he turns the parables around by applying it to the ways of life of those listening. The hearts of those who heard Christ’s parables were revealed. Even the self-righteous and those who thought they were okay with their religiosity would be touched by His words, regardless of class or gender. The teachings of Jesus paint a picture in the listeners’ minds. He also uses parables of their daily activities to communicate words of wisdom into the ears of all His listeners. This puts an urge to hear more in the hearts of all His listers, alas, making them a better person than before. The parables of Jesus tells practical stories or analogies to his listeners while illustrating a point and afterwards, leaving them to their conscience to choose or make a decision.
Have you ever wished you got all your desires?
When God shines His light into the depths of our hearts, we are frequently surprised by what we discover.
For all the blessing that is bestowed on us is not by right but because of His great mercy toward us.
God wants to speak to us through the story of the ten virgins, not for condemnation, but rather to learn a lesson from their mistakes. This parable emphasises all believers’ ongoing readiness for the Bridegroom’s arrival; which is ETERNITY
In Matthew 24, the Bible made it known that Jesus had been discussing His return with His disciples, as well as when He would establish His kingdom and marry His Bride.
TEN VIRGINS
The ten virgins represent all persons who claim to be Christians, yet only some have the light of life while others do not. There are several hypocrites in the church; they are like empty lampstands that does not have the light of Christ shining through them.
The Bible made it known in John 12:4-6 “ Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” Also in In John 6:70-71 “ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.” Judas played the role of a disciple among the disciples, but he was truly not of like mind with other disciples—he was a hypocrite.
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But the Bible teaches in Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Only those that have truly repented (genuinely saved) and embraced Christ and His Spirit are lights in the world
The Bible teaches in Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
True believers can be likened to the five wise virgins. The oil in their lamps indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit in them, because no one can be a believer without the Holy Spirit. As thought by the scriptures in Ephesians 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”
While waiting in the dark, all ten virgins fell asleep. It is evident that darkness (sin) is overshadowing the light (truth) of this generation, but as a vigilant Christian, our role is to be ready, awake, and vigilant; maintaining our stand on being the light in the world. Nowadays, the darkness has already crept to the point that many people today believe those who are standing for the truth are fools.
It is often believed that those who call themselves Christians are out of touch with modern reality, confusing true Christians on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world tells those who are spiritually aware to “go back to slumber.”
The Bible teaches in 2 Peter 3:3-4 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
THE WISE VIRGINS
“ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” Matthew 25:6They had all heard the herald announce the arrival of the bridegroom. They arose quickly to meet him. Those who were wise and prepared used more of their oil from the jars they had brought to fill the lamps (v. 5). They then went to see the bridegroom after trimming their lamps. Let us consider some salient points in the lives of the five wise virgins;
Matthew 25:10 “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” The Bridegroom will, indeed, arrive.
Those of you who have waited patiently and remained faithful will receive an invitation to the wedding.
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Lets pounder a little on this 10th verse.
- (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) The first thing we notice is that when the bridegroom arrived, there was an immediate entrance to the wedding. We aren’t thinking about stories as we consider the time when we receive the call. Do not believe any purgatory illusions about having to go through it first. No, when He arrives, it will be instantaneous. If you are a believer, you will be overjoyed.
As you see Him approaching in the middle of the earth’s darkness, your face will brighten up. Those of you who are sick and dying, if death comes before Christ, you will be awaken and go before those who are still alive on earth.
The Bible teaches in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”Their bodies may be buried or even burned, but their spirits will be resurrected when the Bridegroom returns.
The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” At His return, those who have been separated from their bodies will put on a new glorified body and join all believers in Heaven. This is also affirmed in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” It will be fun up there. We shall reunite with our loved ones who has gone up before us. While those who had made the mistake of bringing along extra oil with them will be astonished to find the door already been shut.
- Notice how private their entrance into the wedding was because it was only them and Him. How glorious it is to know that Jesus (the Bridegroom) will hold our hands and bring us into the presence of His Father and the wedding feast. We will be forever united with Christ. The scripture affirmed this in 2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
How magnificent shall our clothes be on this fateful day! We will be transformed into His likeness reflecting His glory. Is there anything more wonderful than gazing into His beautiful face as He declares His unending love for us?
The scripture gives a glimpse on how glorious it will be in 2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
We will be with Him eternally, by the Spirit of the Lord.”
On that day, no one shall breathe a word against us, and no one shall accuse us before the Father, since all sin has been forgiven and is covered by His blood.
With Christ’s substitutionary death for us on the cross, divine justice has been fully satisfied.
- I’d like to emphasize how exciting the entry will be.
We shall not be entering the wedding hall as witnesses to His marriage; we will be married to Him. This isn’t an earthly wedding; it’s a wedding in heaven.
This wedding will be far more spectacular than any you’ve ever seen, and I’ll tell you again that if you believe in Christ, you’re the bride! You will one day hear Him pronounce His eternal marriage vows over you. Paul stated to the Corinthian church in
2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” The wedding will take place when the Bridegroom arrives. The next time you attend a wedding on this earth, consider it a dim reflection, a prophecy of the day when He comes to escort you up the aisle. They who were prepared followed Him into the wedding meal. There will be no temptation or evil. It will be a glorious day as revealed in Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
- There is one more concept that I am unable to dismiss. It’s the fact that THE DOOR WAS SHUT. “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10. The closing of the door can be said to be the END to all life struggles – The beginning of eternity. Hmmmmmm! What a glorious experience in there. What a glorious moment shall it be to the righteous saints (five wise virgins).
By birth, no one is fit to enter heaven but the only way is through salvation.
Jesus teaches in John 3:3 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The only way to salvation is true repentance. Turning away from our sinful way. Old things must pass away and everything must be new as thought in Revelation 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” As agonizing as it is for those on the outside, it is pure delight for those of us who, by God’s grace alone, are within the wedding door.
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THE FOOLISH VIRGINS The most important lesson we can learn from this parable is the danger of ignoring our salvation, which is the sin that the foolish virgins committed. They were group of people who had……
To be continued………