The Bethany Bullet-Wednesday, November 12, 2008

In the parable of the 10 virgins we find that half of the women rushed in without provision, they lacked oil flasks. Notice it wasn’t that they didn’t care – they showed up. It wasn’t that they didn’t hope to be a part of the celebration – they were there and it was late. In fact, they could rightly blame the bride groom as they figured on appetizers by 7PM and he didn’t show till midnight. It wasn’t that they didn’t desire – everyone likes a party. They just didn’t forecast what it would take to get what they sought – a place in the procession. They rushed in without having provisions to take them where they wanted to go. Where was that? The wedding feast!

The wedding feast is the term which the Scripture regularly uses to talk about heaven; the marriage feast of the Lamb that has no end, the great banquet of the king.

That being the case, it is necessary to understand what the parable is not teaching. It doesn’t mean that we enter heaven because of what we bring with us! Some have oil – some don’t. It doesn’t mean we enter heaven based on the amount we bring – some have enough oil, some just fall short. It doesn’t mean we enter heaven therefore based upon the deeds we’ve done, the good of our goodness, nor the quantity of faith.

How do we know that? Jesus has said, as recorded earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, “I came not to be SERVED but to SERVE and give my life as a RANSOM for many.” Our lives must be redeemed – we don’t pay our own way. (six-words) Over and over and over again in the Word we are told by God’s action in Christ, by the Grace of God in Jesus, and through faith in Him alone are we welcomed into the banquet that lasts forever.

In fact, if this were an analogy that had point by point comparison it isn’t worth much of our time because we aren’t bridesmaids in the ultimate love story – we are the bride of Christ. The church is the one Christ has taken to be his own. Jesus has taken the vows and we are His to have and to hold forever. Not even death shall separate us! In fact, His death binds us together and upon our death that embrace that is ours now by faith begins by touch and sight.

So what is the point in the parable for us?

• Like the lamps in the story, we so easily burn out when we are not fed.
• Like the fools in the story, we FOOLS RUSH IN without provision too often.

Don’t rush in without provision. We have gone it alone to many times. There are things in our life that are long hauls. When perseverance is a requirement and closure will most likely be a long time in coming and yet prayer is a last resort – finding a Christian friend whom we can confide in, be encouraged by and held accountable through is sought only when we are at the breaking point.

Put yourself in a position to be replenished by the oil of God’s promise and mercy, worship and study of the Word!