Sunday Morning, April 18, 2010, 

This morning, we discussed the Matthew 25 parable of the ten virgins (not to be confused with "the ten Virginians" as one of our children once said when he was first learning to read). We broke this parable down verse by verse and made both a personal and a collective application. Here are some of the highlights of our thoughts and discussion:

1. All ten women were virgins with lamps, i.e., they were all pure and were lights (witnesses). We could say that they were all Christians.

2. They all had oil and their lamps had been burning at some point in time. This means that they had the Spirit of God working in their lives and were at one time being led of the Spirit.

3. However, they all slumbered and slept. There are a number of reasons why this happened, including (1) that it was getting late (near midnight) and they became weary in well doing, (2) they influenced each other (notice how that when one person yawns, others start to yawn too), etc... To make heaven, we are going to have to press and get beyond the spirit of the age in which we live, i.e., a lukewarm age. We also need to surround ourselves with people who are spiritually alive in Christ.

4. However, while tarrying, half of them ultimately fell short of what it took to be ready when the bridegroom returned. It takes more than just our own human strength to stay active and alive for the Lord until we individually go out to meet the bridegroom. This also refutes the "once saved, always saved" doctrine that is so prevalent in our land.

5. The five wise virgins could not help the five foolish virgins with extra oil. While it is in the heart of every Christian to help others, obtaining and maintaining your own salvation is a personal decision. "Work out your own salvation".

6. Having flowing oil in our lamps requires open access to the Spirit and the Word of God. Without these two witnesses working in our lives, we will not be ready for the bridegroom.

7. Just prior to the bridegroom's return, the warming was given to make preparation. Thank God for those persons in our lives who are faithful to remind and even warn us at times to be ever ready for Christ' return (individually through sudden death or collectively at the 2nd coming of Christ.)

It pays to be ready for the bridegroom's return.

We ended the meeting by singing the song by D O Teasley, Be Ready When He Comes.

Would you flee from sin and serve the Lord?
Be ready when He comes;
He will soon appear with His reward,
Be ready when He comes.

Refrain:
Be ready, be ready,
Be ready when He comes;
Be ready, be ready,
Be ready when He comes.

It is not His will that you be lost,
Be ready when He comes;
Would you save your soul at any cost?
Be ready when He comes.

Do you know the end of time is near?
Be ready when He comes;
Can you live and die in sin’s career?
Be ready when He comes.

There is awful danger in delay,
Be ready when He comes;
Will you cast your only hope away?
Be ready when He comes.