Matt 25:1-13, we read about five foolish virgins who had not adequately prepared for the coming of the bridegroom and their lamps went out. As they left to purchase more oil, the bridegroom arrived and everyone who was prepared went in with him to the marriage and the doors were shut. Later the five foolish virgins returned and begged entrance, but they were denied.
5, 10, 15, 20, 25 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 …100 ready or not here I come. The game was and is known as hide go seek. I remember playing it with many of the neighborhood kids. As we all venture out to find a perfect hiding spot in which the person counting had to tag a certain spot before those hiding in order to get the opportunity to hide from the lesser.
I can tell by the smiles on the faces before me that many of you have played the game also. I remember how me and my play mates would sometimes get together and plain the perfect hiding spot, I remember sharing locations and areas in which we knew we wouldn’t be found.
But in our text today we visit a different story in fact our subjects aren’t looking to hide but rather be found.
Beloved can you imagine the pain, the heart ache and disappointment those five women must have encountered on the day of their wedding, because of their lack of preparation the dream becomes a nightmare
Truly these women wanted to be with the wedding party, but due to their lack of preparation, they were shut out in the darkness. Here we see that the door was shut on the members of the wedding party who were not prepared for the bridegrooms coming. We as Christians need to reflect long and hard on this parable. Are our lamps trim and burning bright or is our oil running low? Are we preparing ourselves for the moment when our Lord returns or are we sleeping away our time!
In Luke 13:24-28, we see this used again in a different setting. Here we see the master of the house has risen up and shut the door. Those who were locked outside began to knock and plead to the Lord to let them in and yet the Lord answers them, "I know you not whence ye are". At this the people cry out to him saying they had eaten with him and that he had taught them in their streets. However, the master of the house repeats himself and says "depart from me, all workers of iniquity". The door was shut on those who thought they were doing the Lord's will.
What preparation have you made as we await the return of Christ?
Are you truly in fellowship with the God?
Let everyone in a man-made denomination take heed! "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"(Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25).
Now the parable of the foolish virgins seems to be focus on Christian believers, but actually this parable applies more to those who think they are doing God's will. Many of the people in the various denominations truly "have zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:2-3)
Finally, in Genesis 7, we see this from the other side of the door. In verse 15 and 16 we read, "And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two by two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and the LORD shut him in." Here we see Noah and his family, the only righteous people on the earth going into the ark along with the animals and once inside the door was shut.
The righteous are separated from the wrath that God sends the coming destruction that comes to separate us from god eternity. We can only imagine what this scene may have looked like from outside the ark. As the torrential rains began to fall and the water began to rise, can you not see the people banging on the door of the ark begging and pleading to be let in? The door was shut. Those who had obeyed God were safe, while those who had not submitted themselves to God were destroyed.
Where do you stand?
Do you think that you have fellowship with the Lord when, in reality, you do not? "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." (2 Corinthians 13:5) There will indeed be a judgment day. Which side of the door will you be on?
