Part 7 of 7"Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt 25:7-13).
Aaron, the high priest, had to trim the seven lamps on the golden lampstand and supply the oil, morning and evening, in the Tabernacle of Moses. The same was true for the lampstands in the Temple of Solomon (Ex 25:37; 30:7-8; 35:14; 40:25; Lev 24:1-4; Num 8:1-3; 1 Kgs 7:49-50; Zech 4:1-2; etc). Why should New Testament saints be any different when it comes to our spiritual "lamps", our souls? It shouldn't. In fact, the book of Revelation describes the local churches as lampstands (Rev 1-3). "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Ps 55:17)! The "trimming" of our soulish nature is a daily exercise that is to be personally appropriated.
But it's not enough to simply "trim" and "cut back" the flesh. No! We also must fill, fill and re-fill ourselves with the holy oil of God - His precious Spirit: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit"(Eph 5:18). This "oil" is to be our "supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:19)! This is the only way that we can "walk in the Spirit", "live in the spirit", and produce the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22-25).
But friends, we must do this now! Scripture tells us that "the slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting" (Prov 12:27). In other words, only a slothful and foolish virgin would know what needs to be done, have the provision to do so, yet neglect it. Solomon also tells us, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up" (Prov 21:20). Only a fool would know he needs oil, yet neglect to prepare. God help us!
The major difference I see between the wise and foolish virgins is that the wise virgins were walking and living in the Spirit, as opposed to merely seeing Him every other Sunday morning. They possessed oil around the clock, whereas the foolish virgins repeatedly neglected the oil of the Holy Ghost. It's not only that the wise virgins had oil when the bridegroom came, but it was also the effect of possessing continual oil in their lamps: What a progressive transformation this must have had upon their souls (2 Cor 3:18)! And what was the result? The wise virgins cultivated such a precious intimacy that they were granted entrance into the marriage chamber: "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut" (Matt 25:10)! What an honor! This is the reward for readiness. "The BRIDE hath made herself READY" (Rev 19:7)! The power of God's perpetual oil made them ready to meet with Jesus! Will this be said of us? Or will we face the horror of a shut door?
Help us, Lord Jesus!
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