FAITH CAPSULE: Can you tell if and when your oil is running out?
Matthew 25:1-13, Luke 22:39-46
Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins depicts two different kind of believer that are waiting for waiting. Matthew 25:1-5, “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.”
The ten virgins were all purposeful in their agenda. They all went out to meet the bridegroom. Having gone that far in their pursuit for an encounter with the bridegroom, sleeping should have been avoided by getting busy in their waiting and watching. They fell asleep and foolishness became their identity.
How are you waiting? Can you tell if and when your oil is running out? You have come too far in this journey to begin to entertain foolishness. How would you have known that your oil is running out when you are asleep and not awake?
A believer that is on ground of prayer and goes down away from prayer into sleeping is having a sorrow sleep. Disciples of Jesus were on prayer ground at Gethsemane, when they were asked by Jesus to pray so that they would not enter into temptation (Luke 22:40). They all slept and could not hold on in prayer. Jesus came back and found them sleeping. He then questioned them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Luke 22:46)
Are you awake? The only way to avoid temptation is to be awake in the Lord. Is rest assured that the trumpet is going to sound and Jesus will return sooner than expected? When the bridegroom’s return sounded for the Ten Virgins at midnight, the Bible stated, “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was short.” (Matthew 25:7-10) They all slept, and they all arose to meet Him. No one shall escape from seeing Him but not all will enter in with Him. Are you waiting or sleeping a foolish sleep? (That is living a life that demonstrates there is no God…Foolish says that there is no God.) The bible declared, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:13) Watch in your waiting.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to increase your to increase in it takes to wait on Him.