Ever Wonder About This One?

You all probably know the story of the wise and foolish virgins. Speculation abounds as to what the oil in the lamps is. I'm more interested in the lamps.

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching" (Luke 12:35-37). Lamps can symbolize watchfulness.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

The lamp can symbolize our witness. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14).

10 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:10-13). Looking for and hastening the day of the Lord. That word "hastening" has come to refer to the preaching of the Gospel to all nations so as to hasten the coming of the Lord, as shown above, in Matthew 24:14.

So the lamps in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins can refer to being in an attitude of expectation about Jesus' return, and being active in evangelism. This would be the state of readiness.

Traditionally, the oil has been identified as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is necessary for preaching the Gospel, and for watchfulness, for that matter.

And by the way, just for a contemporary touch. Environmentalists teach that we must save the earth. Imagine a god that can't save you, but rather that you must save. However, since God is going to burn up this old earth (to make way for His new one), how is anyone able to save this old earth?
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