WATCHNIGHT SERVICE: GIVE ME OIL IN MY LAMP
Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove © Dec. 31, 2002
Text: Matt 25:1-13, NKJV
25:1″Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6And 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. 8And 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. 11Afterward 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.
INTRODUCTION
This is a familiar parable spoken by Jesus, but found only in Matthew’s Gospel. Parables are stories told for the purpose of illustrating or clarifying a point. Usually, a parable has one main point and it is the point of the story that should be grasped. Unfortunately, through the centuries of biblical interpretation, there has been a tendency to try to find secret meanings, or to expand every facet of the parable, and in the end, miss the point.
When we look at this particular parable we see a familiar motif used in the contrast of the wise and the foolish. Here Jesus contrasts the wise and foolish virgins. In the previous parable he contrasts the wise in and foolish servants. And in another parable Jesus contrasts the wise and the foolish builders. One builds on sand, the other on the rock. So we understand that a contrast between two types of individuals is being drawn. One is wise and the other is foolish, or in the Greek, moros, from which we get the English word, Moron.
What is the point of this story? What is Jesus telling this story to illustrate? Well, the placement of the parable before the description of the last judgment, and the clear contrast between the wise virgins who are ready when the bridegroom comes, and the foolish virgins who are not ready, tells us that the theme of this parable, the point of the story is to be ready when the Bridegroom returns for his bride. In fact, the parable ends with the imperative of command to “watch,” that is, be ready.
To understand this parable, however, it helps to understand something of the nature of Jewish weddings. A wedding day had two parts. First the bridegroom and his friends went from his house to the house of the bride to claim her from her parents. Then the bride and groom would return to the groom’s house for the marriage feast. In this parable the groom was on his way to claim his bride.
The text tells us that the groom was delayed. We shouldn’t read too much eschatology into this particular of the story. It simply heightens the tension and allows for the plot of the story to unfold. However, for some in the church, there is a sense that Jesus, the groom, has been long in coming for his bride the church. The truth is, that there is a day and an hour and nothing on earth will frustrate the unfolding of the plan of God. On the day ordained of God, at that moment, God is going to turn to His Son and say, “Go get my children! Go get your Bride!” And when that moment comes Christ will leap into action and his coming will heralded by the trumpet of God and the voice of the archangel as we are caught up into the air to be with the one who will present us before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
I THE SECRET SIN
Jesus is coming back, but His consistent warning to the church is “watch and pray.” He said, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:40)
In our text Jesus is illustrating that fact that some people will be ready, the wise virgins will have their lamps trimmed and their oil filled. “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”
Lamps of that era were not the glass lamps that you probably grew up with as child, or that you have decorating your mantle. Lamps of that day were made of clay. The truth is that when the cover was on the lamp, and the wick was fed through the spout, it was almost impossible for anyone simply looking at the lamp to tell whether or not there was oil in the lamp. Only the owner of the lamp truly knew whether or not the lamp was ready to be lit when the time came.
Only you know where you stand with God tonight. We live in a religious culture. Through Christian television, radio and print media, we have learned the right talk, we have learned the right walk, we have learned which books to carry, and what preachers to quote. We even have people who know how to fall out. (Illustrate-women who fell out and went to gather her purse and then lay back down.) But God can see more the outward; God can look into our lamps and see our hearts.
II THE COMING GROOM
As I said, for some it seems the groom has been delayed. And in truth, many have fallen asleep. Many have slumbered when we should have been making ready for the coming of our king. In the parable, the announcement was made that allowed the virgins a short time to prepare. “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'”
Now look at what they did in verse 7, “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” All ten virgins began to attend to the externals. All then trimmed the wick and got ready to light their lamps.
We live in a religious world where many have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. We live in a time when, on any given Sunday you could drive past churches and from all outward appearances, everyone is ready for the coming of the groom. But surveys by Christian research specialists such as George Barna have consistently shown that there is a large percentage of people who come to church every Sunday, sit on the pews, sing the songs, give in the offerings, and serve on church boards, who have never had a transformational encounter with Christ, they have never passed from death unto life, they have never been born again.
But the groom is coming! Israel became a nation again in 1948 and tremors of excitement ran through the Christian community. This was the fulfillment of prophecy before our eyes and the alarm was sounded, “The Bridegroom cometh!” As the rift between Christianity and Islam widens and a world war between Christian nations and Muslims seems inescapable, we are awakened to the prophetic implications and to the cry, “The Bridegroom cometh!”
From all outward appearances the church is ready. We have our fine facilities. We have steeples piercing the skies. Our ministers have their diplomas and their doctorates. Our members have their programs and their preferences. We occasionally make political ripples with respect to the subject of abortion, homosexuality, and racism. We’ve got Christian music, Christian television, Christian schools, Christian bookstores, and Christian merchandizing. We’ve got fish stickers on our cars, WWJD bracelets on our wrists, and golden crosses hanging from our necks. We’re all ready! Right?
The songwriter asked the question, “Are you ready should the savior call today? Would Jesus say, âWell done,’ or âgo away?'” All ten virgins looked like they were ready, but five of the ten knew that they were lacking in one essential ingredient-the oil.
III THE PERIL OF PROCRASTINATION
Five virgins suddenly realized that while everything looked good on the outside, there was something missing on the inside. No one else knew. It was not apparent from to the passive observer, but when it came time to light the lamp, when it was time to meet the groom, five foolish virgins came face to face with the peril of procrastination. They had failed to prepare until now they did not have the oil inside that would allow them to shine their lights.
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.’
The foolish virgins made several errors in judgment. First, they had failed to prepare and now, as the groom approached, they were not ready to meet him. Second, they attempted to gain at the expense of others. Grandma’s religion won’t get you in. Sitting by mamma and daddy on the church pew will not guarantee your salvation. At some point, and sooner than later, each of us has to receive Christ into our own heart as Lord and Savior. Third, they have failed to get the oil when the getting was good. They had ample opportunity prior to this moment to prepare, but they didn’t.
Don’t count on a deathbed confession. I knew a man younger than myself, who bent over to tie his shoe and when he did he had a massive stroke and died almost instantly. I was watching a boxing match, several years ago between Boom-boom Mancini, and the Korean National Champion. In one of the early rounds Boom-boom hit the Korean boxer who sank to the floor and never regained consciousness. He died on the way to the hospital. It could tell you over and over of people I’ve known who didn’t have an opportunity for a deathbed confession, or a last minute reprieve. Behold today is the day of salvation.
IV THE CLOSED DOOR
We live in an age of grace. We have the opportunity to receive Christ now. But just as the door on the ark was closed and everyone besides Noah and his family were locked out, and just as the door was shut while the foolish virgins went out at the last minute to try to find the oil, there will come a time when the chances have come and gone, and because we have foolishly failed to prepare for the coming Bridegroom, we will find ourselves on the wrong side of the closed door.
Jesus ended the parable with this exhortation, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Be ready at all times. Trim your wicks, and fill your lamps with oil.
When I was a kid we would sing a song that said, “Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning. Give me oil in my lamp I pray. Give me oil in my lamp keep it burning, keep it burning, keep it burning till the light of day.”
I believe that Jesus is coming back. Things are happening in our world that point to his soon return. I could talk about the revival of the Roman Empire. I could talk about the move toward a cashless society. I could point to the growing influence of the United Nations and the ultimate rule of the world by a single man. I could point the tiny transmitters that are now available for implantation so that you can be tracked by the government from birth to the grave. There are many things that tell us that the return of Christ is near. People running to and fro, hearts failing them for fear. But suffice it to say that the alarm has been sounded for those who will awaken from their slumber. Jesus is coming soon! And my prayer is, “Give me oil in my lamp!”
I want to shine a light to the lost, give me oil in my lamp.
I want to be filled with the Spirit of God, give me oil in my lamp.
I want to be an anointed minister of God, give me oil in my lamp.
I want godliness and the power thereof, give me oil in my lamp.
I want to be an effective minister of the gospel, give me oil in my lamp.
I want to be acceptable to the Groom when He comes, give me oil in my lamp.
CONCLUSION
Is that your cry? Only you know tonight whether or not there is oil in your lamp. Have you had a transformational encounter with Christ? Have you been crucified with Christ so that you no longer live, but Christ lives in you? Has the Holy Spirit taken residence in your heart? Is there oil in your lamp? Will the Groom say, “Well done,” or “Go away?”
As we face the dawning of a new year, it is important for you know that your know, that you are ready should the savior call today. Have you opened up your heart to the work of the Spirit in your life? Do you shine a light in the darkness? Are you watching and praying always that you may escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the son of man?
I suspect that we will be in at least one war this year. I also suspect that there will be major terrorist attack in our country. The economy may get worse before it gets better, if it ever gets any better. Racial tension may very well increase. Social classes may clash in the streets. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Is there oil in your lamp? Can you shine a light in the darkness? Are you ready for the return of the Lord tonight?
Stand with me. We will have an altar service as we approach midnight, but I want you to stand where you are and take a moment to examine your lamp. Is there oil there? I can see that the wick is trimmed. From everything I see from here you all look ready. But take a moment and look within your own heart. Is there oil in your lamp?