Is There Oil In Your Lamps?

Have you ever read in the Book of Matthew about the ten virgins?

It offers us some timeless lessons on being prepared and vigilant. If you are paying attention you know that the times are getting dark and getting darker. We don’t know when Jesus will return, but we should be ready when He does.

This parable is recounted by Jesus and underscores the importance of spiritual readiness in anticipation of the Kingdom of Heaven. By meditating on this scripture we can gain valuable insight into living in faith and foresight.

In Matthew 24, Jesus tells His disciples what will happen at the end of the age and gives them the signs of His return. He tells the parable of the ten virgins.

Parables are earthy stories with heavenly meanings. This parable, like many parables this one causes us to examine ourselves.

Matthew 25:1-3 tells us, that 5 of the virgins came to the door of the wedding after going to get oil for their lamps knocking on the door, “open the door for us” but they were too late.

If we are not prepared we are like the 5 virgins who had to go to the shop to get oil for their lamp, who are late for the wedding of the bridegoom.

Jesus will say to us, ‘I don’t know you.” Therefore we must keep watch because we do not know the day or the hour He will come.

This parable emphasizes the importance of being spiritually prepared because the time of Jesus’s return is unknown. We must learn to listen and obey the Holy Spirit.

It’s what’s inside the Lamp that matters most.

What is interesting about this parable is that the 5 virgins had their lamps. They looked prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom. But the lamp was not enough. With no oil, the lamp was useless. They were focused on what the outside looked like, with no care of what was on the inside.

The oil represents the Holy Spirit, so the real importance is whether they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:8-9 says,

“Those who are in the flesh can’t please God. But you at not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Messiah, he is not this.”

In other words, if you live by the flesh it leads to death and if you live by the Holy Spirit it leads to life.

If the Spirit of God does not dwell within you, then you do not belong to God. The good news is if you become born again His Spirit will come and dwell in you and take up residence in your heart.

Without the Holy Spirit or oil as mentioned in the parable of the 10 virgins, you are just an empty lamp. It doesn’t matter how good the lamp looks on the outside.

When we recieve our salvation we become filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 tells us,

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

One way of thinking about this verse is that we need to constantly yield to the Holy Spirit. Doing God’s will allows Him to have a greater impact on our lives.

Reading the Bible, praising Him and worshipping Him will renew our minds and refill our strength every day. This will give us the oil we need to shine bright in a dark world,

Being filled with the Holy Spirit requires more then than going to church on a Sunday, or fulfilling your “duty” of going on easter Sunday and Christmas.” Your growth will happen most outside of the church. It is there where we prepare our hearts to be ready for the coming of Jesus.

The virgins who had extra oil were prepared and ready for Him coming. Even though we look prepared on the outside, we must be ready on the inside. Our lamps should be full of oil.

Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18we should all be aware of,

“Brothers and sisters, But we don’t want you to he ignorant, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Yeshua (Jesus) died and lives again, even so, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. For this, we tell you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s shofar. The dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Our eternal destination is determined by what we do now. Once we die our eternity is sealed. If we are not ready the door will be shut. If we don’t prepare now it may be too late.

I imagine the virgins were in shock when they were hot with this reality. I for sure don’t want Jesus to say, “I don’t know you.”

Knowing Jesus us has nothing to do with our deeds or actions. And has everything to do with putting our trust in Him as our Savior and Lord. Nothing else matters.

Don’t be like the 5 virgins who just had lamps, looking like they were prepared, but they had no oil. The Holy Spirit did not dwell in them.

The preparation begins now. This is an appointment you don’t want to miss. We have to get ready for now.