We must also have oil in our lamps when Jesus returns.
What does that mean? Jesus told this story in Matthew 25:1-5. “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.” At midnight there was a shout, “Behold the bridegroom comes”. The lamps of the five foolish virgins were going out because they had no oil in their lamps. They tried to borrow oil from the wise virgins but they were told they had to go to the dealer and get their own.
We can think of these ten virgins as describing ten people who say they are Christians. All of them are expecting that the bridegroom (a picture of Jesus Christ) will return. Five of the virgins make a critical mistake. They do not have oil in their lamps. Their lamps go out. Oil in the Bible is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. When a person becomes a Christian the Holy Spirit immediately comes to live in that person. “…having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” Ephesians 1:13. If you have not truly believed in Jesus Christ, you do not have the Holy Spirit and you are not a real Christian. You are a Christian in name only. You are like the five foolish virgins who did not have oil in their lamps. When the shout came that the bridegroom was coming, the five foolish virgins tried to get oil. It was too late.
“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the five foolish virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:10-13. Do not be late. Make sure you believe on Jesus Christ now before he comes and you will be able to go meet him because you have the Holy Spirit living in you.
. Christians should be hoping that Jesus will return at any time.
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”. Titus 2:13. “And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.” Luke 12:35-36
In this illustration from Luke 12 Jesus is telling His disciples they should be like servants standing at the front door anxiously waiting for their master to return. Why? Because He is coming again at any time! He was telling the disciples about the master's going away to a wedding. A Jewish wedding at that time would last as long as seven days, and then all the guests would have a final toast and return home. Our Lord was looking past the cross to the wonderful resurrection, ascension, and then his second coming as the risen Lord and Savior. These disciples were to be ready to welcome the return of their Master at any moment. “Blessed are those servants whom the master will find on the alert when he comes”. Luke 12:37
One day, the Bible says, the trumpet is going to sound, the clouds are going to part, the Lord Jesus is going to appear and all real Christians are going caught up (“the rapture”) to meet Him in the air. Will we be ready to welcome Him? Or would we want Him to delay while we fix up a few things in our lives. If we are expecting the King of kings, how should our life look? Would we be comfortable if He came back during our activities this past weekend? Are there books or magazines or videos that we need to get rid of before He knocks on our door? Do we watch TV shows where we would be mortified if the Savior knocked on our door while they were on? Jesus says that we should be ready immediately to open the door to him when he comes. We shouldn’t have to yell, “Just a minute,” while we shut off the TV and hide a bunch of embarrassing stuff in the closet.
How are you living, Christian? Are you decked-out in the wrong garments — the sin-faded clothing of materialism, immorality, dishonesty and selfishness? Let me ask you a very personal question: if the Lord were to appear this very moment — if that trumpet were to sound right now — how would you feel? Would you be elated to see the Lord Jesus, or would you be embarrassed at how He’d find you — unprepared to meet Him? Would you open the door immediately to Him?
Jesus also told Christians they should stay busy serving and witnessing for Him until He returns
“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit”. Luke 12:35. “Be dressed in readiness” literally means, “let your loins be girded.” In that day, everyone wore long robes which were a hindrance if you needed to move quickly or freely. If a person planned to run or work, he would tuck his robe into a belt around his waist so that it would not interfere with his movements. Jesus is instructing Christians to keep active serving Him and doing his work. Do not let our daily responsibilities hinder us from making His work a priority in our lives. Stay busy serving Him. He has not told us to fold our hands and go out and sit on a hill waiting for Him to come back.
Also Christians are to keep their lamps lit. The first-century household had little oil lamps consisting of a cotton wick floating in a sauce-boat of oil. This wick had to be kept trimmed and the lamp replenished with oil or the light would soon go out, leaving the household in darkness. According to this passage it appears that the Lord will return to a darkened world, and he wants to find Christians shining as "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) until He returns. He wants the light of His character and the hope of His message of salvation to shine through our lives into the darkened minds of the unbelievers all around us so they can be saved and also be ready to meet Him. He has asked Christians to continue to share the gospel until He returns and do not let our light go out.
Author - John Spence