A LITTLE LATE IS LATE
The parable of the ten virgins is an interesting one, with several underlying themes worth exploring. An important distinction to make as we begin is that there are only two ways to view life: the Godly way or the other way. As Jesus taught, "He that is not with me is against me..." (Matthew 12:30 KJV).
Essentially, there is no middle ground in life.
Despite this distinction, it often seems as if these two groups appear the same. Outwardly, there is no obvious mark indicating that one group is headed downward while the other is looking upwards, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help" - Psalm 122:1 (KJV). This brings us to the parable of the wheat and the tares. To the keen eye, wheat is not tares, but to the superficial observer, they may seem alike. Therefore, Jesus taught that the two should be left to grow together, lest, in uprooting the tares, the wheat be accidentally removed (Mathew 12:24-30). There are events that will differentiate the two as did the parable of the ten virgins.
In the parable of the ten virgins, no one could tell the difference between the wise and the foolish. They all looked the same; they were all virgins, all had lamps, and all were waiting for the bridegroom. It is the extent of their preparation that makes the difference between the two groups. This parable seems to refer to Christians as opposed to those in the world who have no time for Christ, having chosen to consciously rebel.
The foolish virgins represent Christians who are not fully committed to their faith. One of their foot is in the church while the other is in the world. They are not entirely worldly, but they are also not truly dedicated Christians. They occupy a place in the middle ground. According to Matthew 12:30, we cannot play both sides, a risky game often engaged in by professed Christians more than by those who have outrightly chosen to live as they please.
The danger of this attitude is exemplified by the parable of the ten virgins, where there is a delay, and the foolish virgins do not have enough oil to last through it. This oil symbolises the Holy Spirit of God, which I prefer to refer to as the "WHOLE SPIRIT." The wise virgins had the "WHOLE PICTURE," which included the possibility of a delay, while the foolish ones had an incomplete understanding that did not consider this delay:
"The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant."
Psalm 25:14 (KJV).
Delays are possible within human systems, which is why we are often advised not to rely on humanity: "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5 KJV). The wise virgins, therefore, represent Christians who have received the Holy Spirit through obedience. As a result, their path is fully illuminated by the Word of God: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105 KJV). In a world darkened by sin, our safety lies in obedience to the Word of God, which we should meditate on day and night to internalize, as guided by Joshua 1:8. We can only practice and remember what we have first understood and internalized: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26 KJV).
It is the "W-HOLY" Spirit that informed the wise virgins that there would be a delay, for this Spirit knows all things. During the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, only those Christians who heeded Jesus' words in Mark 13:14, given many years before the cataclysmic event escaped. God deserves to be worshipped because He is the all-knowing Creator of all things, "...He is before all things, and by him all things consist" Colossians 1:17 (KJV). The Sabbath commandment specifically references this fact as justification for its observance: "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:2 KJV). Observing the Sabbath, therefore, symbolises RESTING in what GOD SAYS as truth. Hence, our safety is in fully trusting God.
Today, many people justify disobedience by claiming, "This is my truth," yet the reality is that there is only one truth because truth cannot be subjective, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" - John 14:6 (KJV). For anyone to claim to be truthful, what they term truth must be applicable in all situations. For instance, regarding the parable of the ten virgins, the truth could have been framed as "there could have been a delay" as opposed to "there will be no delay." The wise virgins behaved truthfully.
The wise are always separated from the foolish by their beliefs: "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Proverbs 22:3 KJV). God is not simple-minded; His mind is unteachable and infinite, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD" - Isaiah 55:8 (KJV). Yet, through the gift of the Holy Spirit and human diligence, we can be uplifted to dwell in His presence and knowledge. This is how David defeated Goliath: by calling on God.
The wise virgins represent those who take their relationship with God seriously and pursue Him with all their hearts: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV). No half-hearted seeker will find their way into heaven, for anything less than full commitment comes from the evil one. God is the perfect measure, neither too much nor too little, something many of us struggle to understand as did Ananias and Sapphira.
Today, many people view God as a figure to whom they can turn for help during difficult times, only to return to their ordinary lives afterwards. This mindset has contributed to a false understanding within the Christian movement, as both congregations and misleading teachers encourage worldliness and self-seeking behaviour:
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; .."
2 Timothy 4:3 (KJV).
However, no one will be lost whose heart is pure and genuinely seeks God. When choosing the twelve disciples, Jesus wasn't looking for perfect men but rather for those whose hearts yearned for a better way of living through a heartfelt relationship with God. Only God can truly see our hearts, and when He recognises our desire for a relationship with Him, He will always reach out.
For instance, Nathaniel was astonished that Jesus could read his thoughts while he sat under a tree, just before Philip excitedly approached him to announce that he had found the Messiah(John 1:47-48). Similarly, when the prophet Samuel went to anoint the next king of Israel after God had rejected Saul, he personally knew David (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Yet, even David’s father and Samuel seemed unsure about who God would choose. God alone could see the true nature of Eliab's heart. None of David's brothers were fit to be king because they were proud and would not have obeyed God. It was not that God chose David; rather, David chose God.
As we journey through life, we must remember that God created all human beings for His own glory, perfectly. However, through the sin of Adam and Eve in Eden, humanity collectively fell, "For all have sinned ..." Romans 3:23 (KJV). We are all special, particularly when we choose to make Jesus Christ the King of our lives and our only way out of sin and eternal loss. God created and chose each of us; it is we who reject Him, as illustrated by Israel’s history:
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matthew 23:37, KJV).
The Spirit of God cannot take control of our lives when we are half-hearted, for God is perfect, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" - Mathew 5:48(KJV). In the middle of the Garden of Eden were two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:9). It's noteworthy that one of these trees has a single name, LIFE, while the other has three, KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL. It was the latter that Adam and Eve chose to eat from, despite being commanded not to (Genesis 2:17). Lukewarmness symbolises a blending of good and evil, which ultimately corrupts the good. It is this duality that the serpent introduced to humanity through Adam and Eve, our first parents.
The Apostle James emphasises that breaking one commandment is akin to breaking all of them (James 2:10), serving as a warning about God's holiness and His intolerance for any form of impurity. This does not mean we must be perfect to be accepted; rather, Jesus Christ accepts us as we are, acknowledging that we are all sinners, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Mathew 11:28 (KJV). However, without full commitment to Him, our rejection is imminent. Sin ultimately destroys.
Saul, the first king of Israel, was rejected because he failed to completely annihilate the Amalekites, "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, ..." 1 Samuel 15:3 (KJV). Amalek represents sin that must be fully eradicated through faith in God's word. Hence Saul's fall from grace is an object lesson in half-heartedness and its consequences. Many people eventually perish without Christ because they constantly postpone the call to accept him, unfortunately, "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." Hebrews 3:15 (KJV).
