Trust in the Lord with all your heart... PROVERBS 3:5,6

I awoke on Sunday, December 31 with a strong feeling about the parable of the 10 virgins found in Matthew Chapter 25. Usually I study the "wise" virgins, because of course we want to be ready, as they were, in this parable told by Jesus. In fact I have often encouraged friends with that scripture and even given gifts from Israel of tiny oil lamps as a reminder that we all need to be diligent to be ready. But in waking on Sunday morning my focus was on the 5 foolish virgins. My heart ached for them.

There was a sentence that pounded through my head concerning them, they have fallen... fallen. I cannot remember the exact words, perhaps they weren't in English, but the meaning was there. It wasn't until reading an email from Chuck Pierce today, that this feeling hit me again.

Now as I rehearse the story in my head once again, I picture all 10 of these virgins huddled together at the beginning talking about the coming wedding, the handsome bridegroom--the beautiful bride, who would be at the feast, what a glorious time it would be. Each time they hear footsteps approaching they look up in anticipation, is it the bridegroom? But as the sun sets and darkness creeps in around them they pull their cloaks closer around them. Some of them look for a comfortable place to sit and wait.

Half of them wonder why the others are carrying around the extra supplies they had brought, as unnecessary additional burdens. In fact, as they all nap, they may even spill some of the extra oil on themselves and be stained before the feast. Some begin to talk about other things not related to the wedding feast at all. Perhaps the bridegroom won't come until morning, so we need not jump up at every footstep we hear. Probably he will wait until morning, and come with the freshness of a new day, as the sun rises in the east... They convince themselves that they are adequately prepared for their perceived understanding of the bridegroom. While the 5 who have prepared for a long night, are still looking expectantly to every footstep which approaches. Perhaps he will tarry, but they are prepared regardless. They all fall asleep feeling they are prepared.

When the announcement came in the middle of the dark night, they all trimmed their wicks that their lights might shine. But there was no reserved oil for those foolish virgins. They had not prepared for a long night. They ran to buy more oil when it was too late. They were shut out. They knew the bridegroom, they knew where he was at the feast--yet they were not allowed in. In fact his response is, "I don't know you." What a crushing blow! It reminds me of the scripture

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you...." Matthew 7

You see, just knowing that Jesus is the bridegroom isn't enough. The devil and his servants know who He is, and tremble (James 2:19) but that will not save them.

We have been in a preparation time for a very long time. Some have been quite satisfied with their level of understanding and service in the Kingdom of God. But there are some who seem to be "redeeming the time, for the days are evil" Ephesians 5:16, living each day for God in active pursuit of learning, growing and serving in whatever ways the Lord puts before them. These are those who have been storing up that extra oil in prepared vessels.

The day is coming when there will be a separation between those who profess to know God and those who are truly serving him. If you are one who looks to going to heaven or some kind of "rapture" to deliver you from this cruel world--or difficulties to come, I earnestly ask you to examine yourself to see if you have extra oil, or even a vessel to put it in, and are you carrying it with you everyday--all day and night. The current events of this world should be shaking each of us to consider our lives in light of eternity. When the world finishes shaking, the only ones left standing will be those firmly established and trusting in God. You see you cannot get your oil from someone else, the wise virgins could not share their oil. You must have your own, in your own vessel.

Read the Bible, the Word of God. Spend time talking to Him, as those in the Bible did. Learn to fully trust God today--and you will be prepared for tomorrow.

Lord, have mercy on us. Shake us, wake us up, that none of us would be complacent. Do whatever it takes to make us wise, that we might be prepared for your soon coming. Make us encourager's of one another, not to just be ready, but to place our absolute trust in You in all things--TODAY. Have Mercy...