(So sorry that I'm a little late in putting here the second part of this topic. Dawn asked me sometime back about the ending of the story in Part One. Well, Dawn, of course the Champion won, as we ourselves shall see in God's own time, when Jesus comes back and establishes His eternal reign. Are you ready? I hope this Part Two will help you look inside yourself to answer that question.)
The Bible has painted for us this foreknowledge so we can be prepared for His coming. Matthew 25:1-10 tells us the story of the 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish ones. When I was a new believer reading this parable, I thought to myself that the 5 virgins who had the oil were extremely selfish ... they should have shared the oil with their friends! But as I grew in the knowledge of who God is and what He has given to us, then I realize that this account is not a lesson in sharing. It is a lesson in being prepared for Jesus, and in using wisely what He has given -- most of all, it's a lesson in perseverance and unshakeability of our focus!
Jesus makes this point by contrast, not by comparison; by disanalogy, not by analogy . Do not view this parable vis-a-vis the custom of Mideast weddings ... I have not heard of any wedding custom even in that part of the world where latecoming guests, though socially awkward, are ultimately excluded from the joy of the celebration. But we are here talking about the eternal wedding feast, so let's adjust our minds a little bit. When that bridegroom finally comes to take us to that ultimate wedding feast, which will be the occasion of all true joy and celebration for all eternity, if we are not ready to follow him, then we will never be allowed into that feast at all. That's how it is in the kingdom of heaven.
Here are just a few points to meditate on:
1) Altogether, the 10 virgins represent all those who call themselves friends of the bridegroom. They all look alike, they all act alike. We read "churchgoers" here, don't we? :) In church are both the spiritually ready and un-ready. They sit together in the pews, much like the wheat and the tares are in the same field. They both carry bibles (all ten virgins carried lamps), but not all of them live lives of commitment, vision and perseverance (oil for the lamp) worthy of His coming. Yep, you and I are the virgins, and hopefully, we are sided with those who are considered wise, and not foolish.
Incidentally, many readers of this parable think that the 10 virgins represent the church. Not so. The Church is the Bride -- the 10 virgins are individual persons. Virgin character refers to the whole church, virgins (plural) are individual members of the body. Jesus makes this parable very personal to highlight the need for each individual's spiritual preparedness.
2) Why is Jesus issuing such a warning? Because He knows that His coming will be delayed -- "delayed" not in the sense that an external circumstance prevents Him from coming, but "delayed" only in the reality that He will come at His own timetable. And He wants us to know that. God will inevitably keep His promise, but He will not keep it just because we demand that He does it NOW. Who do we think we are??? The Kingdom of God will come in all of its glory, but in the meantime, there are things to do to get ready and remain ready to follow the bridegroom to the feast when finally He does come.
Personally, I think it's harder to be prepared when I don't have a timetable to work with. Recently, a ministry leader in our church asked me about a loosely-discussed project, and asked when I could have it ready. I was FAR from ready, so all I could say was, "Uh-oh. Give me a schedule and I'll get there pretty strong." This may be acceptable for external jobs like this (it had better be, because as I said, I'm far from ready!), but not for the Eternal Feast. Hence this parable. The absence of a timetable is not the same as the erasure of a promise.
I suspect that this was what the wise virgins knew all along. They were ready for the fact that the Bridegroom may just surprise them bigtime, so they were ready for a long wait. They carried extra oil for when the lamps ran low, bearing with the extra weight and extra work of gathering the oil. They exercised forethought, planning, and dedication. That's why they were called "wise". The foolish (from the Greek word moros, same as moron) virgins did not prepare, content to carry only enough oil to appear wise. Doesn't that sound like a lot of so-called Christians? They carry out God's instructions with the least amount of effort they think they can get away with. But their store of oil gets depleted, and they have nothing more. Their perseverance, like that of the foolish virgins, is incomplete.
3) Did you notice that both the wise and the foolish virgins fell asleep as they waited for the long overdue bridegroom? That was, surprisingly, an encouragement to me -- a word from God that He doesn't judge me for those times when I feel slow-poked in my walk, and that sometimes I do end up slumbering and sleeping! Notice closely how these two terms are used separately here. There is actually a critical difference. The word "slumbered" means nod, a transient act, whereas "slept" in this context carried a tense that signified it to be a continuous act. Isn't that an amazing nuance of God's word? We see the progression of lethargy. What a reminder!! First, all ten virgins nodded their heads as if napping, and later, they slept continuously and deeply. Initial weariness is the first step to further spiritual decay. It is vital to catch temporary apathy early to prevent permanent disillusionment.
4) At midnight, a cry was heard, says v. 6. Midnight here represents the least time that you would expect a VIP to come. But our God is a God of surprises, and we should expect Him to specialize in the unexpected. I think the wise virgins knew this -- all because they knew Him. And because they knew Him, they recognized His signal. So up from their sleep they got, and went on the business of trimming their lamps. That's the same word as kosmeo, which means to beautify as a final preparation for the big event. The wise virgins had kept their flame burning, and had made sure of the means to keepit so.
And this is what God asks of us: for our desire, our love, our commitment to Him to keep burning. He wants to find us energized for His coming. I know He is now sending out signals of His presence, and we are to get up to kosmeo not just our bodies but all that we do, for Him.
I had often wondered why the 5 virgins did not share the oil with their friends, when they already knew that the Groom was coming. Why? Then, I realized that this parable is a lesson in perseverance and commitment, and it became clear. In our Christian walk, nobody can persevere for us. We have to do that ourselves. Nobody can carry preparedness on our behalf; we have to get our own states prepared. Nobody can double a commitment enough to carry another; it is a person-to-person issue. Our faith must be our own; it cannot be borrowed, nor can moral character or spiritual gifts be transferred. Thinking we can hitch a ride without responsibility is nothing short of foolishness, and such spiritual negligence bears awful consequences.
I pray that, as we hear the trumps of God's chariot, our lamps and our vessels are full. Friends, let yourselves be kosmeo -- beautified for His coming. Indeed, that can only happen if your store of faith is full.
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