“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’” (Matthew 25:1-9)
It is assumed that the bridegroom is not from the same town as the bride, so the time he will arrive is uncertain. Whatever the time, though, the bridesmaids had to be ready. God sees those who brought extra oil as wise and those who did not bring enough were foolish virgins. This oil represents THE FULLNESS OF OUR SPIRITUALITY. There are many “Christians” who do just enough to get by but that’s not what God is looking for. He is looking for our lives to be FULL OF HIM and doing all we can to be FULLY OBEDIENT TO HIM. “Your word is a LAMP to my feet And a LIGHT to my path.” (Psalms 119:105) WE ARE VESSELS OF THE LORD, “But the Lord said, “Go, for he is a CHOSEN VESSEL of Mine…” (Acts 9:15) So,
- we are the vessel
- the Word is our lamp
- the oil is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us
The way we make sure our vessel is full, “Your word I have hidden (memorized) in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:11)
You see, Will it’s hard to OBEY the Word of God if we do not KNOW the Word of God!
“The spirit of a man is the LAMP OF THE LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.” (Proverbs 20:27)
“Then Jesus spoke, saying,
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. HE WHO FOLLOWS ME SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE… (John 8:12)
-Bill Stockham