Most of us are familiar with the parable of the ten virgins as transcribed in the book of Matthew. In the story, we read of five who are said to be wise and five more who are foolish. Each are awaiting the bridegroom to announce His arrival and welcome them to the coming wedding feast. In anticipation of a long delay, each of them carried an oil lamp to ensure they would find their way after nightfall. Additionally, the wise among them brought extra oil guaranteeing their lamps might last the duration. The foolish failed to consider the potential long wait and trimmed their lamps with either just enough oil for a single use or none at all.
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
Matthew 25:3-5 (ESV)
Both the wise and foolish are referred to as “virgins.” We could take this to mean each is considered virtuous, untouched and kept ready for the arrival of the Bridegroom. In other words, both the foolish and the wise could be called Christian believers. The bridegroom we know to be Christ Jesus and the wedding feast His long awaited return. It’s worth noting at the outset that regardless of their character, both groups “…became drowsy and slept.” In other words, irrespective of personal virtue, each individual, at some point, fell asleep.
Let us consider by way of contrast a typical American Christian congregation. The pews are filled with relatively upstanding church members and family groups who have given their lives to Jesus. They regularly attend service, give their money, and sacrifice their time and energy for the good of the ministry. They often pray, engage in worship service, occasionally fast, and generally abstain from overtly secular activities. Some are perhaps more zealous than others but, on the whole, they are a good group of believing church-goers.
But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
Matthew 25:6-8 (ESV)
As previously stated, at some point everyone in this parable falls asleep. This is an important detail. We live in a time when the vast majority of professing Christians have already spiritually fallen fast asleep or have grown drowsy in their discipleship. This is evident by the way we respond (or rather, fail to respond) to God’s word. Too often the Holy Spirit comes to our wicked hearts and attempts to convict or goad us into some sign of repentance. He challenges us with hardships, tests us with trials, and convicts us with outright rebukes. Yet almost no one responds. The majority of Church-goers today are unable to even recognize Christ’s siren call, let alone the quiet movement of His presence. We’ve grown accustomed to groping in the dark and fail to realize our flame has faded to a flicker or completely gone out. We’ve so conditioned ourselves to dismiss conviction as “condemnation” that we almost instinctively write off the grace of God as legalism or the work of Satan.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20 (ESV)
So many of us count ourselves among the body of believers yet refuse the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We’re like the foolish virgins who join in the wedding procession and share in the anxious anticipation of our union with the Bridegroom, yet refuse the cross of suffering designed to make us ready for His arrival. Our oil lamps are ready, the scriptures memorized, and the commentaries adorn our shelves but the word of God remains dormant in our stubborn hearts. When He reveals something even remotely uncomfortable about us, we shrug it off, convinced we are saved and forgiven. In so doing, we harden our hearts and the oil of purification is thoroughly rejected.
As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Hebrews 3:15 (ESV)
We further read in the book of Hebrews that the “rebellion” refers to the children of Israel as they wandered in the desert for forty years. Yet, due to the stubbornness of their hearts and refusal to heed God’s voice, He swore they would never “…enter His rest.” They heard the voice of God but rebelled against it. Likewise, we too refuse the precious oil of the Holy Spirit as night rapidly closes in. For Christ Himself declared…
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
John 9:4 (ESV)
A time is coming when the darkness of this world will completely engulf all of us. The compromise in our congregations, the whitewash from our pulpits, and the refusal to deny our own comforts slowly lull us into a deep sleep. If we refuse the conviction of the Holy Spirit while there is still light and freedom to seek Him, we will awake with our lamps completely empty. Only they who respond to the cross of Christ and take up that same cross to become transformed into His image will be welcome at the wedding feast. The disciples slept as Jesus wrestled in the garden and the Spirit is attempting to shake us awake that we might embrace that walk to Golgotha. Yet, it is evident some of us are desperately attempting to play catchup, trying to fan into the flame the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6) by borrowing oil from others. Too many years have been wasted rejecting God’s discipline. Not unlike the foolish virgins, we desire the wisdom and understanding only years of suffering with Jesus can give. But time is extremely short and the door is closing fast. Let us take warning. Begin to plead with God to grant us the gift of conviction, to search our hearts and provide the oil of His precious repentance. May we awake with our lamps full of oil, ready to greet the Bridegroom with His divine light!
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:10-13 (ESV)
I composed a song exploring this fundamental parable of Jesus and featured on my latest release, Between the Seven Stars.
The night has come
The lamps are aflame
And the virgins wait for their love
Five of them are foolish
Though five of them wise
Each awaits the bridegroom to come
Chorus
The bridegroom cometh
His heart song beats in the night
“Come to the wedding hall
Come to my feast one and all”
The hour grows late
And hearts grow faint
And soon all asleep on the ground
The oil burns low
The light fades away
As the flames start flickering out
Repeat Chorus
Time draws near
The call sounds clear
And the bride awakens her heart
The wise have light
But five won’t shine
And soon are left in the dark
Repeat Chorus