Does He know me?

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’
12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:1-13, NKJV

I'll truly ask you to muse upon some facts of this parable which Jesus told:

Fact Group A

• All ten were referred to as virgins (understand the spiritual terminology)
  
• All ten had lamps
• All ten went out to meet/await the bridegroom
• All ten slumbered and slept while the bridegroom was delayed
• All ten arose and trimmed their lamps at the midnight cry
  

Fact Group B

• Five were wise, the other five foolish
• Five (wise) had enough oil in their lamps; five (foolish) did not take enough oil
• The five (foolish) actually did care enough to go back to buy oil
• The five (foolish) regarded Him as "Lord"

Fact Group C

• Those who were ready (five wise, with enough oil) went in with Him and the door was shut
• To those were not ready (five foolish, without enough oil) He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Now, if you agree that these two groups of virgins had different outcomes, I'll ask you to consider how many/what differences were there between both groups. And why do you think Jesus thought it important for us to know this?

This passage of scripture stirs up a godly fear in me:

I am awaiting Him. I have a lamp. I consider myself in the world but not of the world (virgin). I have some oil.

But also:

Where is my oil level at? Am I ready? Does He know me?

What about you?


First published: January 2009