Crossing the canal that morning, I saw men searching the water. I asked what the matter was, and the old Christian who kept the narrow bridge told us the sad story. An 80-year-old man had drowned in the canal during the dense fog the night before. He ended with, “Aye, the poor old man, he had a lantern, but no light. If only he had come to me, I would have lit it for him gladly.”
That reminded me of the story in Matt. 25:33They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (Matthew 25:3): “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them.”
Have you ever noticed the verse, “Five of them were wise, and five were foolish” (Matt. 25:22And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (Matthew 25:2))? It is a sad thought that one half of those who went out to meet the bridegroom only appeared to be ready. They had lamps, but no oil. Outwardly, they were all just the same. All ten carried lamps, but only the coming of the bridegroom revealed the lack of the five. One could say that they were professors of religion, but they were not possessors.
How many people say, “Well, I am as good as the rest of them,” and so those five foolish virgins might have said, for all had “slumbered and slept” while they waited, but the test came at last and showed that the five foolish ones were not ready to meet him. Then “they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, the bridegroom of Matthew 25, will return to earth one day. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you received Christ Himself as your own personal Savior? Does the name of Jesus and the bright hope of His coming again bring a happy, loving response in your heart? Oh, do not rest until you can say from your heart, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).