#1 THE HEART THAT LOOKS BACK.
When Jesus taught about the day of His return, He said in Luke 17:32, "Remember Lot's wife."
WHAT HAPPENED TO LOT'S WIFE? The Bible states when she fled the destruction of Sodom with her husband and their two daughters, she was turned into a pillar of salt when she turned around and looked back at the city she left . Why? There is a important lesson here. Lot's wife was only steps away from safety (representing salvation) when she turned around. And though her intent was to leave, to give up her old way of living, and though her feet took her from Sodom (that abominable city of sin), the Bible says she looked back ---> "looking back" in a spiritual sense symbolized a deep longing to return to her old life. Jesus was giving us a visual of the principals that exposed her heart. While her body was physically escaping (as many people have the desire to escape their sin and wickedness as well) she looked back, AND MANY CHRISTIANS are looking back in these end-times even though their intention is to leave their sin filled lives, BUT they are winding up like Lot's wife-- desiring to go back to their old habitual sins. These are those who's hearts are not fully committed. They remain tied to SIN! They won't let go. The bottom line? Hesitation and looking back, exposed the true intension of her heart. Do you feel this way? As a Christian, is sin calling you back? Salt also symbolizes something: a desolation where nothing can ever grow again, representing the finality of her spiritual death and her choice of a worldly life over safety (salvation).
This example given by Jesus serves as a reminder not to "look back" or cling to a broken past when called to move forward in faith. A perfect WORD from Jesus tied into this is from Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Whatever you care about most gets your time, energy, and attention because your deep feelings and desires will naturally follow what you value most. Today, many people follow Jesus with their feet while their hearts still treasure sin. This serves as a warning to let go of your attachment to all that keeps you in sin. Give your WHOLE HEART to Jesus, don't hold back. "Love GOD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength" (Mark 12:30). Many who believe they are ready may discover too late that they are not. This is a warning!
#2 THE VIRGINS WITH NO OIL
First of all, understand what Jesus means by using the term "virgins." In His parable, the word virgins symbolize purity and dedication to Christ. They are His loyal believers --those who have kept and nourished a personal trusting relationship with Him -- those awaiting His return -- those who don't look in any other direction (meaning He is their one and only- no other religions, philosophies, or false doctrine pull them away), those with an unashamed profession of their love for Him through spiritual fidelity!!
Back to the parable. Matthew 25:8, "The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out." This is what makes this verse in the story so frightening.
There were 10 virgins (represents believers in Jesus ) waiting for the Bridegroom (who is Jesus) to arrive.
All were carrying lamps.
All looked ready.
All sounded ready.
But 5 of the 10 had little oil in their lamps and their lamps were going out.
These were called foolish virgins because they didn't bring extra oil for their lamps as the other wise virgins did so they were desperately asking to be given oil they had not prepared for.
**IMPORTANT NOTATION: The wise virgins prepared and took extra oil with them in case The Bridegroom tarried and His coming was delayed. They wanted to be ready no matter how long it took. People TODAY say He's not coming because they believe there is a "delay" since He's yet to return which to them proves it's all a farce so they aren't preparing for the long haul. Also, there is another warning in this parable. The 5 foolish virgins in their attempt to "borrow" oil from those with plenty is a message centered around personal preparedness. In other words, spiritual readiness cannot be borrowed from somebody else. Faith cannot be borrow from me to you.. I cannot give my faith to save anyone. Each person must cultivate their own faith and relationship with GOD. You're responsible for that yourself. Then, the final message regarding the 10 virgins is, WATCHFULNESS! Stay watchful and spiritually prepared because no one knows the day or the hour Christ (the Bridegroom) will return. Thus the reason the 5 wise virgins took extra oil to keep burning regardless of how long it takes for Christ to return! One final message of the parable .. the 5 foolish virgins had the outward appearance of religion (the lamp) but no inner spiritual substance (the oil-the Holy Spirit) to keep their light burning when their test (the delay) came to prove loyalty. Our example today: You can go to church faithfully, believe Jesus is God in the flesh as John 1:1 proves, confess it, tell others you believe it, and yet not have that close relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, so that in time the importance of Jesus in you begins to fade, your light grows dimmer, until finally it goes out because you did not fuel the fire you once had! So, the warning is, if Jesus comes in the blink of an eye you cannot expect someone else's faith to save you if you've faded to nothing. You cannot say, " I followed my preacher and believe everything he told me" then expect that to be counted as your faith. You cannot say, "I read Pat's Sunday Blogs all the time and learned about you" expecting that to be a devoted, personal relationship with Him. You cannot expect someone else's faith or belief to substitute as your personal bond to Christ. You must read The Word yourself, seek, find, love, and devote your heart to HIM outside of religions or doctrine.
#3 THE MAN WHOSE REPENTANCE CAME TOO LATE.
Hebrews 12:17 tells us that Esau found no opportunity to change what he had done. He traded his birthright for an entire meal of red lentil stew and bread. What was sacred, his birthright, mattered most but he treated it as something ordinary, believing he could always put-off and make things right later. But later came! The blessing was gone. Today, many people feel conviction, yet keep delaying repentance. They think there will forever be another opportunity so they put off occasions and daily chances to seek and find Jesus. They are trading opportunity for other worldly things they deem more urgent. But when the trumpet sounds, AND LET ME TELL YOU continuous preaching, warnings from Christians, blogs you read about His coming ARE A FORM OF TRUMPETING!! Those of us warning, calling, urging, and inviting, are in the position of "watchman" .. one who blows a trumpet to warn the people. If anyone hears the trumpet but ignores the warning, their blame is on their own head.
We Christians view the continuous preaching of the gospel and the warnings about the end times as fulfilling this "watchman" role. So in this sense, every preacher, evangelist, or believer who warns that JESUS IS IS COMING is metaphorically blowing a trumpet to wake people up. Unfortunately, if the call is ignored, the parable shows tears will not open the door! Begging will not open the door. Prayers will not open the door. Excuses will not open the door once Jesus comes for His virgin Church. Choices have permanent, irreversible consequences. And just as Esau wept and desperately wanted his fathers blessing back, he was rejected because what Esau had done could not be changed. Trading the eternal for the temporary is a lesson we need to heed. The passage in Hebrews is warning for us not to throw away long-term spiritual inheritance for short-term immediate gratification.
I hope these passages are more clear for you now. Value God's grace and opportunities now, before the window of opportunity closes.
Until He Comes,
-Pat-
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