I know of one thing that God cannot do. (Now, don’t get all heady and send me notes about his omnipotence. Stick with me.) I’m kind of jazzed up about sharing the gospel. It’s not that I didn’t think it was important thirty days ago, but something inside of me has shifted—dramatically!
It all started when a dear friend of mine, Laura Booz, invited me into the romantic story found in Matthew 25: The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids. If you are familiar with the passage, you know that all ten of them were pretty excited about the arrival of the bridegroom. They held tightly to their “lamps”—the kind of ticket stub into the bridal party. I can imagine them polishing them and keeping them lovely. But...only five of them took the time to fill their lamp regularly with oil. When the bridegroom came, they were able to light their lamps and the bridegroom found them acceptable. The others pleaded and cried, but were left behind.
The oil represents the presence of Jesus Christ and/or the Holy Spirit indwelling the person. This is unequivocally the only “ticket stub” into heaven, which scripture tells us will one day host the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is the oil that lights up our lamps. I’m so happy that five of these precious bridesmaids knew that secret and had the oil of Jesus Christ filling them.
But I know that some of you reading this right now have been fooled just like the other five bridesmaids. You’ve spent an awfully lot of time polishing your picture perfect Christian image. All the while, you’re empty inside. It’s just a facade. If the bridegroom (Jesus) came for us today YOU WOULD NOT BE READY because you have never taken a moment to stop and ask him to forgive you or your sins and dwell inside of you, filling you like an oil fills a lamp. I fear that many from Christian homes, active in their youth groups, attending Christian high school will find that when Jesus returns for us, they were just shining an empty lamp. When Jesus returns for his Church, you will be left behind just as this parable teaches.
My friend, don’t wait. Stop right now. Read Matthew 25 and ask yourself: “Which kind of bridesmaid am I?” Then, call your pastor or a mature Christian you trust. Pray the prayer of salvation with them!
