Is there oil in your lamp?
I heard this question a few weeks back. I’ve thought about it often. Is there oil in your lamp? I’ve thought about what it means. Of course, the first thing that comes to my mind is the kids chorus I learned back in felt board time. This was considered a praise and worship song back in the day. You may remember it too:
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning ’til the break of day
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna to the King of kings
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna
Sing hosanna, to the King
Give me fuel to make my light burn for others. May I keep burning for all to see. Sing hosanna. Keep me burning ‘ til the break of day. Sing hosanna. There’s another verse asking to be made a fisher of men. Sing hosanna.
The question also reminded me of the parable of the 10 maidens, bridesmaids, or virgins.
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil.” Matthew 25:1
In those days a wedding was a big to-do lasting every bit of a week. The groom would go to the bride’s home for the wedding ceremony. After the I do’s, they’d hop onto his camel, all decked out with tin cans and a Just Married sign, and he’d take her to his house. All the wedding guests would follow the newlyweds in a great parade or procession to the groom’s house where they would party hardy for a week or so and then the lovely couple would live in great happiness forever. Sing hosanna.
So these 10 ladies had hoped to be part of the great wedding procession, they were definitely invited. The problem was that only 5 of them were prepared. You see, it could sometimes be quite a while before the happy couple left the bride’s home to head to the groom’s home to live. We’ve all been to weddings, and rarely do they start when we expect them to. It was no different with this wedding. Maybe the flowers hadn’t arrived. Maybe the ring went missing. Maybe there was a problem with the dress. Maybe all the guests had not arrived. We don’t exactly know. But what we do know is that the groom didn’t come when they thought he would.
When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.
Behold He comes…at midnight! A very unusual hour, a time when most would have been sleeping, a time when most would have been surprised, caught unawares, unprepared.
But, can you just imagine the great celebration? The Bridegroom emerges from the bride’s house to cheers, trumpets blaring, a joyous celebration, dancing with all their might, singing, let the party begin! Sing hosanna!
So the girls hopped up, trimmed their wicks and lit their lamps. But there was just a small problem. Only five of them were ready. Only five of them had enough oil in their lamps. Only five of them could participate in the procession, only five could attend the wedding. Only five of them could go the distance.
Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
By the time the ladies had returned from purchasing oil, it was too late. The feast had started and you can’t join the party after it has already started. It’s very unfortunate for these ladies. You see they didn’t have the excuse of being too young, too immature, not knowing the process of the wedding. Although these ladies were not yet married, they were also not children. They had no excuse for not being prepared. They simply chose not to be ready for the Groom. It is a choice you know. We all get to decide whether we will be ready when the Groom comes, whether we will participate in the wedding feast.
The world, Satan, will lie to us. He’ll say we have plenty of time – not so. He’ll say you can live the way you want and still attend the wedding – not so. He’ll say you’ve got plenty of time Jesus isn’t coming soon – not so. He’ll say you don’t have to be prepared for the wedding, you can rely on those who are – not so. He’ll say you only have filthy rags to wear – not so. He’ll say your kind isn’t invited – not so. He’ll say that you don’t have a worthy gift to take to the wedding – not so. He’ll say that this wedding is just not a big deal – not so. He’ll say that there will be no wedding – not so.
When Jesus comes back…Sing hosanna…we must be ready. We can’t beg, borrow or steal to get into the feast. We have to be ready all on our own. We can’t rely on someone else’s relationship with Jesus or someone else’s heart to be able to attend the marriage feast. We can’t rely on attending church to be able to attend the wedding. Are you ready? Is there oil in your lamp? Is it burning, burning, burning? Can others see it? Do you need to come to Jesus now and say Lord, give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, I want to be ready for the wedding?