Matthew 25:1-4 NKJV
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
When you think about the wise and the foolish virgins, they both looked alike when the story begins. The difference was only made visible when the bridegroom showed up. Before the bridegroom came, the foolishness of half of the virgins was concealed. This reminds me of the parable of the wheat and the tares. Ones the tares were sown among the wheat, the master instructed that both should be allowed to grow together until the time of harvest. If you were to pass by this field, I am sure you would not have been able to tell the wheat plants apart from the tares. They looked similar just like the two groups of virgins, you could not tell them apart. The same scenario is seen with the wise and foolish builders. Both houses seemed ok until the storm revealed the strength of their foundation.
The issue with the five foolish virgins is that their lamps were empty and thus they could not shine light. The oil once in the lamp cannot be seen and so just looking at the lamps at face value, you may not notice anything. Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world and we are to let out light so shine before men that they see our good works and in return give glory to our Father in heaven.
The question we each must ask ourselves as believers is this; Am I becoming more and more like Christ in my character? Am I growing in my character or have I remained the same in my character though I got born again?
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The fruit of the spirit must be seen in my life as I become more and more like Him.
Reflections:
What are some character traits that God has changed in you since you got born again?
What is one character trait you have that is not pleasing before God?
What will you do about it?
