After having looked at the "Sign of Jesus' Coming" in Matthew 24:1-14, we now look at the first of three parables that are about "being ready" for the coming of Jesus. It's great to know the signs in the political, social, natural, religious world, and the (singular) "Sign of Jesus Coming", the preaching of the everlasting Gospel as a witness to all nations (24:14). However, what good is it to know the signs and the SIGN, if we miss out on being ready and prepared to go with Jesus when He returns again?
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
The first of the three parables of Jesus about "being ready" for the Second Coming of Christ, the Parable of the Ten Virgins is a somber reminder and a wake up call to experience true conversion, to make a complete surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior, and to daily grow in your relationship with Jesus. It's a simple story, but more profound and deep than at first sight meets the eyes. Ten Virgins, or Ten young maidens, who were part of a bridal party that awaited and expected the Bridegroom to arrive for the Promised wedding. Let's look at the parable as told by Jesus Our Lord.
"“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep."
Jesus is telling us that this is a parable that represents the condition of the church in the world just before He returns the Second Time. In prophecy, a woman represents a church, and the number ten in Scripture, also represents the church and God's people. In the Old Testament, we have the Ten tribes of Israel, and in the days of Jesus, Ten was the smallest number of men that could establish a synogogue in Judaism. Ten, then, represents the Church, and these ten virgins represent the spiritual condition of the Christian church and all Christians just prior to Jesus Second Coming. Five are designated as foolish, and five as wise, but why were the wise wise, and why were the foolish foolish? In the parable, all ten virgins "become drowsy and fall asleep" (v. 5), so that isn't what differentiates the wise from the foolish. The difference seems to be in the phrase, "The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps" (v.3-4). As was the custom in participating in Jewish weddings at the time of Jesus, all bridesmaids (or virgins) would take a lamp filled with oil to last them while they tarried and waited for the bridegroom to arrive. All ten virgins had a lamp with oil, but only five brought extra oil along with the oil in their lamps. Oil, what does that represent in the Bible?
In the Old Testament, oil was present in the earthly sanctuary and represented the consecration and holiness of the earthly sanctuary. It was poured over Aaron and his sons, when they were dedicated to serve in the temple. According to Zechariah 4:1-14, the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. While there appears to be no difference for some time between the foolish and wise virgins, the "apparent delay" of the Bridegroom reveals that some are "destitute of the Holy Spirit" and have not been truly converted. While they profess to believe in Jesus and Love His Church, their actions, desires, and intentions reveal that they love the world more than they love the Lord. One of my favorite writers puts it this way:
"The two classes of watchers represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith ... In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ's second coming. All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. All have heard the message of Christ's near approach, and confidently expect His appearing. But as in the parable, so it is now. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the cry is heard, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him," many are unready. They have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. They are destitute of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible; but unless the Spirit of God sets the truth home, the character will not be transformed. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan" (Christ Object Lessons, 406-411).
What makes the difference? How can we be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus today?
Conclusion
It is by growing daily in our relationship with Jesus Christ that we maintain ourselves connected to God. It is through the person of the Holy Spirit that we are able to surrender ourselves more fully to Jesus. There exists today, a great disassociation and misunderstanding about the nature and person of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that He is a person, not a force or power, and that He desires to live in us and lead us into a greater experience with Christ. So what steps can we take today to make sure we are not part of the foolish virgins, but instead part of the wise ones?
Steps to becoming a Wise Virgin
The first step is to surrender yourself completely to Jesus Christ. Invite Jesus into your heart and into our life. Pray this simple prayer. "Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I can not save myself. Please forgive all of my sins, and come into my heart and into my life. Amen."
The second step is stop pretending and start experiencing a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not enough to go to church on the right day of the week, believe in your mind the right doctrines, be a member of a church, if you don't walk with Jesus every day. That is called being a nominal Christian, and hell will be full of nominal Christians. Be a real Christian. Live what you believe, and trust Jesus more every day of your life.
The third step is to start asking God to grant you a greater measure of the Holy Spirit so that your life can be transformed completely in Christ. The Holy Spirit will help make Jesus the Lord of your life, and He will give you victory over Sin and sins in your life. Sin will no longer have dominion in your life, but instead Jesus Christ and him crucified will be the most important thing in your life (1 Corinthians 2:1). As John Stott, the English preacher says in his book Radical Disicpleship, "To become like Christ is God's plan for His Church." God wants you to be more like Jesus today. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you more like Christ. More love, more humility, more service unto others.
The fourth and final step is to keep your spiritual sword and intellect sharp. You can't battle the enemy while filling your mind with trash in the form of inappropriate movies, music, and literature while neglecting to keep your Spiritual Sword Sharp, your knowledge of God's Word. Read the Bible every day. Start with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, and read it believing that God has a message for you today.
So are you ready to become a wise virgin today? God is! He's waiting for you. Just ask Him.
~ Pastor Salvador Garcia
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