Maintain the Oil

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet with the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:1-4)

The parable of the ten virgins is a warning against lazy assumption as we wait for Jesus’ return.

The wise virgins carried the oil so that, at any moment, they were ready for the groom. 

The foolish virgins brought no oil. They assumed they could either borrow from the wise or have time to buy when the groom returned. 

But on the day of the wedding, the foolish virgins found that their assumptions were built on false hope. They couldn’t borrow oil from anyone else, and they didn’t have time to buy. When, at last, they came to the feast, they heard a tragic word at the door:

“Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:12)

Jesus is stirring up all who sit in ease, relaxing in presumption before his return.

In the delay, we descend into drowsiness (Matthew 25:5). We settle into a lukewarm faith and push the fire into a hypothetical future season. We become strangers of the Groom.

All the while, we walk with empty lamps. We rest content, assuming that Jesus will give us a heads-up warning and plenty of time to prepare.

But now is the day of preparation. Matthew 25 is the heads up.

When he comes, there is no time to buy. His sudden arrival will expose the foolish virgins who banked on more time to ready their souls.

When he comes, there is no oil to borrow. No one can pass their fire to another on the final day. Every soul will give account for what lies in their lamp.

We cannot predict when the bridegroom will return. But we can prepare for his coming by living in constant readiness for his arrival.

The wise maintain the oil. They walk aflame. They anxiously await the day when they will trim their lamps at the sound of trumpet blasts (Matthew 25:7; 24:31).

Now is the time to get the oil.

Now is the time to light the lamp.

Now is the time to ask the Father.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)