We read the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. For most of the people listening, I'm sure you understand this already. But I'll speak to it on the chance there might be a few that run across this video that need it. I can't remember how many times I've heard people say things like, make sure to keep your lamp full of oil. And I'm concerned for these people. I'm not sure what they think they're doing to keep their lamp full.
The oil is the Holy Spirit, given freely when faith is placed in Jesus, in His finished work. And it never runs out.
John 14 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
How long does the comforter, the Holy Spirit, abide with us? For ever. The Holy Spirit will never leave a saved person who has put their faith in the finished work of Jesus. Regardless of what you do or don't do, or what kind of life you live, or even if you have a crisis of faith. Jesus is faithful. No one can pluck us from His hands. Do you think you're more powerful than God, that you could remove yourself? I assure you, you're not.
The wise virgins are ready because they've placed their faith in Jesus. Today, it would seem the foolish virgins have no understanding of this, and their only approach to God is trying to earn something from Him. And so they're told to go buy more oil. That's all they understand. Trying to earn salvation from God. Go buy it. In the same way you might tell somebody who keeps hitting themselves in the head with a hammer and complaining that their head hurts... Keep going and hit it again, I'm sure that will help. Even when they came later, presumably after buying more oil, it was useless. Jesus never knew them.
They didn't know exactly when, and wise and foolish alike were sleeping when Jesus came. But the wise were ready, nonetheless. They had oil in their vessel, sealed by the Holy Spirit.
The foolish had to go prepare themselves, but there was no time for that. There was no time for a last minute prayer, or for a last minute good work. The reality is, Jesus never knew them anyway, and it wouldn't have made any difference how much they tried to prepare themselves or how many prayers they said.
Jesus didn't know the foolish virgins. There's another time when Jesus speaks of not knowing those, who say to Him "Lord, Lord." They seem to think they know Him, and tell Him about all the wonderful works they did in His name. And He tells them to depart from Him, He never knew them. These would be likened to the foolish virgins, trying to earn their salvation from God.
You see this mentality today among people who see their salvation in a constant state of flux, dependent on their behavior and prayer status at any given time. Maybe they once believed and they lack assurance, or maybe they're unsaved, I don't know. If they're unfortunate to die at the wrong time, they'll go to hell. They got caught without oil in their lamp, I guess. The truth is, the oil they really need can only be gotten one way, and they have no understanding how to get it. They don't know about, or don't agree with God's way of righteousness, by faith alone, in Christ alone. Perhaps they think it's unfair. Rather they've gone about to try and establish their own righteousness.
They'll read this same parable and come to a different conclusion. That they have to work hard to keep their vessel full of oil, so they won't be caught short, and the foolish virgins didn't work hard enough. Or whatever it is they think they're doing, they have to do enough of it. It's a decision each person has to make. Whether they'll place faith in Jesus, or faith in themselves. Whether they'll believe the gospel, or not.
You can work for a boss for many years, but they'll never know you. It's just work.
The oil they really need is the Holy Spirit. The oil that never runs dry.
John 3 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
If you want to get right with God, place your faith in Jesus, how He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Jesus gives salvation freely to all who believe on Him. And once given, He will never take it back, and nothing can separate you from Him. Jesus gives you oil that never runs dry.
Jesus clothes us with His righteousness, and He keeps us clothed. If you're not clothed with the righteousness of Christ, by faith, you're really naked. Your self righteousness is nakedness. I would encourage you to have full assurance, by faith alone.
We can enter eternity at any given moment, unexpectedly. We need to be ready at all times. And there's only one way to be ready, always, without fail. No last minute prayer required. Having placed your faith in Jesus, you can trust that He has you and will never let you go. If you've placed your faith in Jesus, you were forgiven for every sin you would ever commit in your life, 2000 years ago. It's complete. Jesus made one sacrifice, and it was accepted. There won't be any more. The only thing that was required of you to make this forgiveness and salvation effective, was your faith in Jesus, in His finished work. When you first believed. Jesus saves us, and Jesus keeps us. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, permanently. Sealed, safe, and secure.