THAT EXTRA OIL
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. Matt. 25:3, 4, R.S.V.
Two people are praying about the second coming of Christ. The first prays, "Lord, I have waited for You so long! Come soon and save me from this miserable world." The other person prays, "Lord, use me to enlighten others about who You are so they can choose aright, even if it means You need to delay Your coming."
Both persons want Jesus to return. Both want to see an end to the reign of sin and the beginning of the eternal kingdom. But if you listen closely, you will spot quite different motives as to why they want Jesus to return. And That is precisely the point of Jesus' parable about the ten young maidens who were asked to lighten the way for the coming of the Bridegroom.
Both groups of women had oil in their lamps--the Holy Spirit in their minds to illuminate them. Specifically, all ten wanted Jesus to come. They all knew the approximate time and sought to be ready. But five of them were concerned only for the light adequate to get themselves in. The other five (whom Jesus identified and wise) were prepared to lighten the way for the coming of the bridal party. Knowing that they themselves would find entrance, they wanted to lighten the way for others as well.
The sobering part of Jesus' parable, however, is the fact that the five whose concern was narrowly self-centered did not enter into the wedding feast with the Bridegroom. Though they had enough light (truth) to know that the Bridegroom was coming, they were not prepared for the essential privilege of their calling. They were unable to hold the lamp of truth high so that others could appreciate His coming as well.
I find myself confronted with probing questions. Am I more concerned about the "soonness" of Jesus' coming than I am about the One who is coming? Am I more eager to be rescued from this planet than I am to be prepared to tell others about the Rescuer? Is my attention centered upon slipping away from the cold darkness of this world into the warm light of heaven? Or do I find great delight even now in watching the light dawn in someone's eyes as he gets to really know Jesus Christ?
For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. Matt. 25:3, 4, R.S.V.
Two people are praying about the second coming of Christ. The first prays, "Lord, I have waited for You so long! Come soon and save me from this miserable world." The other person prays, "Lord, use me to enlighten others about who You are so they can choose aright, even if it means You need to delay Your coming."
Both persons want Jesus to return. Both want to see an end to the reign of sin and the beginning of the eternal kingdom. But if you listen closely, you will spot quite different motives as to why they want Jesus to return. And That is precisely the point of Jesus' parable about the ten young maidens who were asked to lighten the way for the coming of the Bridegroom.
Both groups of women had oil in their lamps--the Holy Spirit in their minds to illuminate them. Specifically, all ten wanted Jesus to come. They all knew the approximate time and sought to be ready. But five of them were concerned only for the light adequate to get themselves in. The other five (whom Jesus identified and wise) were prepared to lighten the way for the coming of the bridal party. Knowing that they themselves would find entrance, they wanted to lighten the way for others as well.
The sobering part of Jesus' parable, however, is the fact that the five whose concern was narrowly self-centered did not enter into the wedding feast with the Bridegroom. Though they had enough light (truth) to know that the Bridegroom was coming, they were not prepared for the essential privilege of their calling. They were unable to hold the lamp of truth high so that others could appreciate His coming as well.
I find myself confronted with probing questions. Am I more concerned about the "soonness" of Jesus' coming than I am about the One who is coming? Am I more eager to be rescued from this planet than I am to be prepared to tell others about the Rescuer? Is my attention centered upon slipping away from the cold darkness of this world into the warm light of heaven? Or do I find great delight even now in watching the light dawn in someone's eyes as he gets to really know Jesus Christ?
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