Have you ever convinced yourself that you are ok only to discover later that you were not ok? You are not alone, many people have. The five virgins made a choice not to carry extra oil. I am sure they knew it was the right thing to do and even if they did not, they had examples right before them.

The bridegroom took long to come, meaning that these 5 foolish virgins had the time to go get the extra oil they needed. Once they recognized that 5 of them had extra oil, they should have become wiser and done the same but they did not because they deceived themselves into believing that all was ok.

Knowing and doing are not the same. James tells us that those who hear the word but don’t do as it says are deceiving themselves.

Knowing and not doing does not make you any better that he who does not know. In fact, it a makes you worse, a fool, because he who does not know if they did, they would probably do and be better.

As a friend of mine once asked me, “are you peddling in truths you have not tested?”

You say you believe because you know but your lifestyle and choices tell a different story because you never apply what you claim to know. That is self deception.

The five foolish virgins knew the right thing to do and they had an example before them and they had the time to do the right thing but they chose not to do so. The reason we know that they had the opportunity to do the right thing is because they did it but it was already too late, the master said he did not know them.

When you think about it, when the end comes, all will be believers but for some it will be too late. May we not just be hearers of the word but doers.

What is something you know is right but you do not do it?

What excuses do you give yourself for not doing what you know you need to do?

What must you do to make a change?