Unprepared
Matthew 25:1–13
And the door was shut. Matthew 25:10
Here are two lessons from this parable of the ten virgins.
1. Being prepared for judgment is not transferable. No person can get by on another’s faith. You cannot be saved by the life of Christ in someone else. Many people delude themselves along these lines. They do not have true faith in Christ, but they have been exposed to it over a period of years and suppose that, in the time of Christ’s judgment, they will be able to appeal to God’s work in the life of someone close to them.
“What right do you have to come into my heaven?”
“Well, I don’t really know how to answer that, Lord. But consider my mother. She was a godly woman, and I learned a lot from her.”
“I didn’t ask that,” the Lord replies. “I asked, What right do you have to enter my heaven?”
“Look at my Sunday school teachers, Lord! They were godly people; they certainly went out of their way to teach me. They prayed for me too. Don’t forget them!”
Jesus replied, “What right do you have to enter heaven?”
This helps us understand why the wise women refused to give their oil to the five who were foolish. Their refusal seems uncharitable. But the story is not about charity. Rather, the parable reveals that when Christ returns, each person must stand on his or her own. Your mother’s faith will not save you. Your wife’s faith will not save you. You will not be saved by the spiritual life of your son or daughter. The questions will be, Where do you stand? Are you alive in Christ? Are you ready?
2. Lost opportunities cannot be regained. The foolish women set out to buy oil, but the bridegroom came, and they were too late. So it will be when Christ returns in judgment. Those who are ready will be taken in to the marriage feast, and those who are not ready will be shut out.
Do not say, “I will turn to Christ later. I will repent after I enjoy a few more years of sin. There is always time for Jesus.” You do not know that. Today may be the last time you will hear the gospel. And even if it is not—even if you do hear it again and again—it will be no easier for you to turn to God later. In fact, the opposite is the case. The fact that you have rejected the free offer of God’s grace now will harden you so that you will find it much more difficult to repent later. Millions who once heard the gospel and postponed a decision have since perished in their sins. The only wise thing is to come to Jesus now. The Bible says, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.