Looking At Our Lamps

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they
that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was
shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

One thing to remember right off the bat is that God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man; he alters the man to fit the robe.

Here we see 10 virgins. Five tried to fit the robe to themselves. Five allowed God to fit them for it. Our part isn't hard. This is the most joyous life we can have. Even if there was no heaven or hell, I'd still rather live the life I do right now. Sure, there is joy in sin for a season, but I don't want to live there. Our path is better. We see many today doing just what these virgins did. They all looked the same, almost as if nothing was wrong with either group. You can come to church all the time and pay your tithes, but you may not be saved. When you're saved, the change comes to the inside. But sometimes it's like this. You can't tell the difference.

But in this scripture, it is not so. All the virgins rose to trim their lamps. Five lights had gone out; five were still burning. Five were eternally foolish; five were eternally wise. Both groups waited for the bridegroom; all were slumbering. Wake up. Get back to the old paths. Those days may be gone in general, but it can happen individually. We have control of our own relationship with God. All of them had lamps. They were in pretty good shape. They all trimmed them. We see from this that even the wise were not where they should have been; however they kept their oil.

In verse 3 we find that the difference in the two groups was that the foolish had no real interest in their lamps. When it was convenient, they thought about it. When it wasn't they didn't. When they were too tired to do it, they didn't. Are we that way? Do we stay out of church because we're too tired. I guarantee you that even if tired we'll go to work the next day. The interest is just not there. The wedding garment had become a curse. Five neglected the opportunity that they had. Do we have enough interest in the house of God to keep our lamps filled? Can we keep them filled from Sunday to Sunday without coming to church? We become filled with the things of the world and we let the oil run out. We think God is on our side. We go from place to place. Jesus is preparing us a place; we need to get prepared for that place.

Verse 6 tells us there is a reckoning day. If there was no reckoning day, I'd say forget it and have my "fun." But there is a reckoning day for all of us. The time will come for it, and it will be too late to go get the oil for the lamp. Take a good look at your lamp. Be honest about it. Open your eyes and give it a good look. Five were not prepared, and we see one of the saddest statements we'll ever see. We should do whatever it costs to not be outside when that day comes. Consider the condition of your lamp.

Verse 12 is the turning-away verse. Through the years all 10 were spoken to. Five of them listened; five did not. He opened his arms to all of them, but it was too late. The same is true for us in the spiritual sense. God's arms are open now; one day they won't be and it will be too late. Five should have been serious about it all along. This verse was put here for our benefit.

Remember the robe is not altered for us; we are altered for the robe. Let's make a dedication to be closer to God than we've ever been. Be serious. Maybe we need to fill our vessels again.

(In the absence of the pastor, Jack Sprinkle brought the message this evening.)