Dr. Monterey D. Lee, Sr
“Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be like 10 virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go out to meet Him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said unto the wise, give us of our oil; for our lamps are going out. But the wise arose, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you. The bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut,” Matthew 25:1-13.
The 10 virgins looked alike on the outside. They had all been invited to the wedding and were anticipating the arrival of the bridegroom. Each of them had a lamp with its small supply of oil in it. However, five had no oil in their vessels and five had extra oil in their vessels. The difference was the extra oil to be ready to receive the bridegroom. For it is the extra oil that makes the difference in the world. Perhaps that little bit of oil in the lamps can be likened to our own zeal and determination. Yes, God expects us to be zealous for Him. We need to purpose in our hearts that we will live for God and have a faith that says extra. We must make a whole-hearted commitment to please the Lord and be determined to bring a supply of faith as the five wise virgins—never being without like the five foolish virgins. There must be something beyond what we can provide of ourselves. We need to have extra oil.
Philippians 2:13 says: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” This inner supply of oil is given to us by God. As a believer, one who walks by faith, we cannot do without. We may exchange God’s love with each other as we experience the love of God. We may join in fellowship as true followers of Jesus Christ. We may win souls to bring people back to Christ. In order to be ready when Jesus comes back, each of us will need to have a personal faith and inner divine power without which we cannot endure to the end. This is that extra oil we cannot give away nor share. Every man must have an inner willingness to grow spiritually and be a faith walker exemplifying one true relationship with God that says you have extra oil. How much oil do you have, so that when the bridegroom arrives you will be well prepared to meet Him?
