“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars among with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they became drowsy and fell asleep.” (Matthew 25:1-5 NIV)
We read this text and wonder; why virgins? Why does the Lord compare His return to a groom collecting His bride?
The betrothed virgin awaiting her wedding speaks of expectation. Marriage is an unknown threshold for the yet unwed. Of course, the single woman can ask about married life, read and even dream about it, but marriage is an untouched frontier until we’ve committed to it entirely. Promises at the altar birth a new name and a new life. Post-marriage, we become a different person; now a part of one flesh much larger than ourselves. All of these things are also true for us as believers, waiting for our bridegroom. Like the parable virgins, some believers are waiting with joyful anticipation and readiness, others are unprepared and unsure.
In Jesus’ illustration; at midnight, the virgins heard the voice of their bridegroom. We read this and remember, Jesus really is coming. Yes, the days have gotten long. We get drowsy, weary of waiting, but He is still fulfilling His promise. He has not forgotten. Just like grooms of old, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. I read a lot of historical fiction and grooms of ages past would set their sights on a young lady, pronounce their intentions and then spend their days building a homestead to begin their new life. One day, when the home was ready, they’d have the wedding and their new life together would begin. Likewise, Jesus has spent every day since His resurrection getting things in place for His bride. He told us as much:
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-4 NIV)
Jesus’ goal is to be with His bride! Each and every day, He is working toward that goal. He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. What is our right response to His promise and perseverance? The Word shows us two potential postures: preparation or procrastination.
Now we can’t know the why of the young women in Jesus’ parable, but half of them went out of their way to be prepared and the other half had not made themselves ready. We examine our own tendency toward unpreparedness for clues. Lack can be a heavy contributor to our incompetence: lack of belief, lack of excitement, lack of understanding or commitment can all keep us from proper preparation. But also, fear can be a factor, as well as anxiety, laziness or preoccupation with lesser priorities. Most notably, a lack of love will render a bride unprepared.
Let’s consider the lamps for a moment as well.
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’” (Matthew 25:7-9 NIV)
In ancient time, lamps were required for night travel of any kind. There was no electricity, no streetlights or flashlights or headlamps. Lamplight consisted of palm sized vessels, filled with oil and lit with a wick. The traveler would suspend this little lamp by a chain to see their footfalls. A single flame did not cast much light; such a lamp could not be shared because there was simply not enough light to go around. And to share one’s oil supply was to run the risk of both travelers being lost in the dark altogether.
The oil and the lamp speak to our personal responsibility in preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb. There are no divine wedding planners for hire, we must do the readying ourselves. We buy oil for our lamps through prayer, worship, scripture study and cooperation with sanctification. We share His truth with anyone who will listen. We encourage our fellow believers to do the same work; to prepare their hearts for His imminent return. Remember; Jesus spends every day working on our forever home, it is only right that we spend ourselves on Him also.
Lord, today we remember that You are returning for Your bride. We face the same choice as the virgins: preparation or procrastination. May we spend ourselves in preparation, purchasing our oil and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same. We don’t want to be caught off guard and ill-prepared to follow You into the unknown. We want to be ready in every way possible, delighting in the promise of our new life together. Amen.