TAKE ALONG EXTRA OIL

MATTHEW 25: 1-13

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.  The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.  When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.  Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Believers worldwide are waiting in anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; the scripture says he will come like a thief in the night. This is why we have to spend every day as if it is going to be our last day on earth, and who knows if it’s going to be, because nobody knows the exact time and hour that Jesus will come. As long as we are preparing for the coming of Jesus, it is unfortunate that not everybody will qualify to reign with him.

Like the ten virgins in the text, they all prepared to meet the bridegroom; five took extra oil with their lamp and the rest of them did not take extra oil with them. All of them left their various abodes in expectation to meet the bridegroom, leaving their homes with their lamps shows that they took serious steps in meeting the bridegroom. Five of these virgins were wise while the rest five were foolish; the wise ones were the ones with extra oil while the foolish ones were those without extra oil. For you to meet the bridegroom (Jesus) you need to have extra oil for your spiritual lamp, having a lamp is not enough. Having outward association with the church is not what will make you to reign with Christ; ‘playing church’ won’t get you anywhere. Your right relationship is what guarantees your eternity. The wise virgins represent the righteous and sincere Christians that are on their guard to take extra care in running their Christian race, taking into consideration anything that can be a hindrance to their smooth heavenly race. The five foolish virgins symbolise those Christians that are carefree of their Christian life, these are the hypocrites in the church that their inner being is nothing to write home about, yet they present themselves to the world as Christians. For any believer to meet the bridegroom you need to evaluate your Christian life, identify and fix anything that can be a distraction or hindrance to your heavenly race before the bridegroom comes. Take an extra oil (extra care and caution) with your lamp (Salvation) to be able to stand the test and trials of this world.

The text says “when the bridegroom delayed in coming…” they slumbered and slept. We don’t know when the lord Jesus will come, but we need to be spiritually awake till he comes, any mistake to slumber could be disastrous because the devil is very much ready to attack any sleeping believer. The virgins prepared enough for the coming of the bridegroom, but at a point they dose off, if they had not slept they would have known when the oil was about to finish in their lamps. Maybe they would have been able to get oil and still meet the coming of the bridegroom. The devil has many tricks that he is using to get serious believers to be distracted and derailed at the last minute, be vigilant!

Many serious minded believers who have been working their salvation with fear and trembling, they are steadfast in faith, but unnoticed and carelessly; they allowed the devil to attract their spiritual life by becoming lukewarm. If you want to see the bridegroom; you have to be self-controlled and alert to be able to perceive it when the devil is trying to make you lose focus. You need tolerance, perseverance, long suffering, patience, meekness, holiness and you need to be very vigilant and be extra courteous to position yourself where you will be able to go in with the bridegroom.

I pray that our preparation and waiting will not be in vain in Jesus name.