DON’T LET YOUR FLAME GO OUT!
Don’t Let your Flame Go Out
You know I’m reminded about the Parable of the “Ten Virgins” in the book of Matthew 25:1-13.
Jesus shares a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven by saying it is like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish-careless, unprepared, and not pay attention. The other five were wise-sensible, practical, and ready.
The question is: Which group do you identify with?
If you were one of the ten virgins, are you unprepared and careless, like those who were not watching for the coming of Christ? Or are you aware and living in constant preparation for the arrival of the Bridegroom, Jesus?
Although the parable speaks of ten virgins, Jesus is not limiting His message to women. The virgins represent two kinds of people-those who are spiritually prepared and those who are not. This warning applies to both men and women alike. The issue is not gender, but readiness of the heart.
The foolish virgins were unprepared. They left home without extra oil for their lamps. Sometimes, we may hear that Jesus is coming back when we were children, and because He has not returned yet, we can become distracted and complacent-until our spiritual reserves are running low without us even realizing it. We may take it for granted, thinking, “Today is not the day for the Bridegroom to come.”
The wise virgins, on the other hand, were always prepared. They kept a reserve of oil at all times because they did not know the day or hour the Bridegroom would arrive. Likewise, they made sure their hearts were in right standing with God, and that their lives were well-pleasing to Him.
The Bridegroom was delayed, and the ten virgins fell asleep. Even when we sleep, we are called to remain alert, because staying connected to our Savior depends on the oil that keeps our lamp burning-our constant connection to Jesus Christ. We cannot afford to let our flame flicker as if it might go out.
After waiting day after day, the cry came at midnight: “Look! The Bridegroom is coming. Jesus is coming! Go out and meet Him!”
The ten virgins got up and prepared their lamps. They trimmed the wicks and added oil. But the foolish virgins discovered that their oil was insufficient. They had not realized that this time was real-not like the other times when the Bridegroom had been delayed and they went home safely. They were unprepared because they had not been paying attention to the amount of oil in their lamps, and now they could not sustain the flame.
The foolish virgins asked the wise for some oil. The wise replied, “We cannot share with you; go buy oil for yourselves. “While the foolish virgins went to purchase more oil, the Bridegroom came-Jesus came-and the door was shut and locked. Only the wise virgins, who had stayed in constant preparation, went in with the Bridegroom.
I imagine, based on scripture, that the ten virgins had all gone out daily looking for the Bridegroom. The foolish may have thought it was unnecessary-perhaps foolish to look every day for a Bridegroom who might never come. Yet they went along with the group, because it seemed like something to do. After all, they went to the same church and were sisters in Christ.
But the foolish virgins were totally unprepared. Even though they were physically with the wise, they did not have a real connection with the Bridegroom. This is a matter of the heart-a relationship, not just an outward appearance.
Sometimes people follow the crowd, thinking that going through the motions is enough. But the Bible says:
“Not everyone who says ,Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
Salvation has nothing to do with merely attending church or working in the church. It is about your personal relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is about staying connected to Him and living for Him daily.
The five foolish virgins came after it was too late, and the door was shut. They began shouting, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us! But he replied,
“Truly I tell you, I do not know you.”
They had no real relationship with Him.
This parable is a warning: be alert, prepared, and ready, because we do not know the day or the hour when the Son of Man will come. If the five foolish virgins had truly desired to meet the Bridegroom, they would have been prepared.
Instead, they only had a form of godliness. They looked like the five wise virgins outwardly, but their hearts were not connected to God’s heart.
We must be spiritually prepared at all times because Jesus’ return will be sudden and unexpected. Readiness cannot be borrowed from others-each person must be prepared individually.
I cannot say, “Because my mother is born again, I am guaranteed to be saved.” I must confess my sins and accept Jesus into my heart for myself. Salvation is a personal choice that each of us must make for ourselves.
If your “FLAME” is burning bright do not let it grow dim. Get used to trimming your wick. Stay alert, stay awake, be prepared. Check your oil daily. Make sure you have reserve on hand.
Matthew 24:36 says; But of that exact day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the son (in His Humanity), but the Father alone.
The five foolish took their lives for granted. They did not keep their lamps filled, and have extra on reserve. One day the “Bridegroom” came and they were left. Their unpreparedness cost them their place in the celebration-A sober reminder is that “readiness” today determines tomorrow’s reward.
“Stay Ready, for the Bridegroom is coming.”