How Are You Preparing?

KEY VERSE: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.” —Matthew 25:13

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:1-13

IN THIS PARABLE, the wise virgins picture the living members of the ‘bride class’ at the end of the Gospel Age, while the foolish virgins, being less watchful, well represent the ‘great multitude’.—Rev. 21:9; 7:9

The parable was not given to identify the bride of Christ, but to emphasize the need to watch. The role of the maidens in ancient Jewish wedding customs lent itself well to teach this lesson. Faithfulness on their part was revealed by their possession, not only of oil in their lamps, but also an extra supply in their vessels.

Since this is what the virgins required in order to perform their role faithfully, the oil would represent what we need in order to be faithful watchers who are spiritually alert and prepared to go along with our heavenly Bridegroom and to enter the wedding home with him.

In the Bible, oil is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In this association, possession of the Holy Spirit in large measure is a vital necessity for every faithful watcher. Retention of the Holy Spirit implies the need of continued faithfulness along all lines of Christian endeavor.

To possess the Holy Spirit calls for a full surrender of our hearts to the Lord, a complete denial of self, and a dedication of ourselves to the doing of our Heavenly Father’s will. The possession of the Holy Spirit by the consecrated requires the continual study of the truths of God’s Word, and their application in the daily affairs of life, regardless of difficulties encountered.

Possession of the Holy Spirit impels us to faithful activity in the Lord’s service, and, by our faithfulness we receive God’s Spirit in ever-increasing measure. Jesus said that our Father was more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him than an earthly father is to give good gifts to his children. (Luke 11:13) Prayer, then, is a means of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

No wonder the wise virgins of the parable could not give their oil to the foolish virgins, but told them to go into the marketplace to obtain their own supply. The ‘marketplace’ of experience involves time to live the consecrated life, time to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, time to study, to serve, and to pray.

The parable emphasizes that the wise virgins are invited into the wedding, but that the door of opportunity is dosed to the foolish virgins. The bridegroom addresses these as strangers, and they are greatly disappointed. Because there are two classes of virgins does not suggest that one class is righteous and the other wicked. They were all virgins who together went to meet the bridegroom, and to accompany him to his home. But five were ‘wise’, and the others were not.

How the wise virgins displayed their faithfulness is the vital lesson of the parable to us. Certainly in every part of the harvest of this age, it has been important for the virgin class to be alert and watchful. The length of the harvest period has been so much greater than at first was expected, and so the quality of patient endurance has been required in order to avoid becoming spiritually lethargic.

The cry, “Behold the Bridegroom,” has gone out ever since our Lord’s return, and the seeming delay in the establishment of the kingdom is a test upon our faith and patience. But let us rejoice in the fact that everything is ‘on time’ with God!

A little spiritual drowsiness on our part might make us think we have plenty of time to prepare to be faithful ‘virgins’, when in fact, the time may indeed be short! But if we are daily faithful in the use of all the means by which our vessels are kept filled with the Spirit, we will be ready at any time when the Bridegroom extends his invitation, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”—Matt. 25:21

| Home Page | Table of Contents |