Jesus quotes the parable of the wise and foolish virgins while teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven to His disciples and exhorts them to be watchful and emulate the wise virgins. This is documented in the book of Mathew 25:1-13.
Ten virgins came and lay in wait with the same expectation of being able to partake in the celebrations with the bridegroom. The five who were wise anticipated delays and were prepared with oil for the lamps that could last them through the night. When the groom eventually arrived and the call to join the celebrations was made the wise virgins were able to join as they were present and prepared. But the foolish virgins had run out of oil and went around looking for oil for their lamps while the bridegroom arrived. By the time they returned the doors for the celebration had already closed. They were found wanting due to lack of focus and preparation leading to rejection from the celebration and disappointment. What does this parable convey to us in the present days?
Jesus is the light of the world; as mentioned in John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”. He also taught His disciples “You are the light of the world. A city set on the hill that cannot be hidden”. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” – (Math 5:14, 16). That is our appointment and purpose in this world. For our lamps to go out means we are no more fruitful in His Kingdom. Oil is needed to keep the lamps burning and oil refers to the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Both in the Old Testament and New Testament oil is repeatedly mentioned in relation to the divine anointing. In the Book of 1 Sam 10:1, we read about the anointing of Saul as King and then again in 1 Sam 16:13 about the anointing of David as future King by Samuel. Bible mentions that the Holy Spirit came powerfully on David from that day forward. In the New Testament also there are several instances where the use of oil for anointing is mentioned. Jesus’ disciples anointed the sick with olive oil and healed them and drove out demons (Mark 6:13). In the book of James 5:14 anointing with oil in the name of Jesus combined with prayer is the Bible’s prescription for healing from any sickness.
The message for us is, the coming of the Lord and Savior Jesus is a certainty though the timing is unknown. It will happen at a time when no one expects and it will wait for no one as it was foretold by Jesus himself and recorded in Mathew 24:36-44. Only those who are focused, with an expectation of Jesus’ coming, fully prepared in the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is, having accepted Him as their personal Savior and Redeemer and filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit will be eligible and able to enter the Kingdom. If we don’t have Jesus in our life and the anointing of the Holy Spirit you neither have the light nor the power of the Holy Spirit which will keep the light burning. Without Jesus, we can never be fruitful and therefore have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven.
This is a time of introspection; with which group would you count yourself to be – the wise or the foolish? Do you know Jesus and have you accepted Him to be your personal Lord & Savior? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit anointing?