The Ten Virgins.
THE long silence, however, was broken. The culpable quiet of the slumberers was disturbed. A soul-stirring sound was heard. “At midnight there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” And the cry was effectual. A general awakening followed. All were aroused. “Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.” It is not well to speak positively, perhaps, as to when this part of the parable had its accomplishment; but it is very remarkable, that until about forty years ago the hope of the Lord’s coming seemed to be entirely lost. This, too, had been almost universally the case for many centuries. When about that time this “blessed hope” was earnestly set forth by many of the Lord’s servants in different parts of the world, and especially in this kingdom, a decided awakening took place. Since then, where the testimony of the Lord’s personal return has been proclaimed, thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, have been aroused; and, with fresh-girded loins and trimmed lamps, have found it their heartfelt joy to go forth to meet the Lord. It is remarkable, too, that when the hope of the Lord’s coming has been truly set forth, the finished work of Christ, the security and standing of the believer as accepted in the Beloved have been preached in connection with it; for it is evident, if I have the present possession of everlasting life, if I am a child of God, if I have passed from death unto life, and am now complete in Him who is the Head of all principality and power, I can wait only for glory. If our citizenship is now in heaven, what can we look for but the Lord Jesus Christ to come and change our vile body, and take us up to meet Him the air? I refer to this, because it is clear that Scripture does connect the present standing and security of the believer with this “blessed hope.” On the other hand, as we might expect, Satan has taken certain parts of prophetic truth, and turned to his own evil purposes, by associating with them some of the most pernicious doctrines; and in this way uses prophecy to endeavor to undermine some of the most important parts of divine revelation. The perfection and glory of Christ Himself make everything manifest. Prophetic events, or any other doctrine, may amuse the activities of human intellect, but the heaven-born soul is taught that Christ is all. It is Christ Himself he looks to, draws from, seeks to please, sympathizes with, and waits for; and when He is really the heartfelt enjoyment of the soul, it is easy and happy to be subject to His word and Spirit; and such cannot stray far from the truth.
But to return. In all ages there have been, doubtless, true Christians; and it may be those, too, who held fast and enjoyed the doctrines of divine grace, and have been filled with love to the truth and service of Christ. But going forth to meet the Bridegroom in the energy of bridal love, is what marks the wise in this parable, and characterizes those who have received the testimony of His coming.
Observe that though the arousing spoken of in this parable is first of all general, it soon becomes connected with inevitable separation. The true devotedness of the wise virgins to the Lord Himself, carried on as they were with faith and hope, soon made manifest the awful fact, that there were among them those who had “no oil.” Their destitution was apparent to themselves as well as to others. The consequence was, they were compelled to halt, they were unable to keep pace with the faithful ones; and separation necessarily ensued. It is a most solemn and instructive lesson. Were it better understood, we should not find true Christians complaining of their being associated with so many they feared were only mere professors, and had “no oil” in their lamps; for a few faithful steps on their part in the narrow path of faith, and love, and hope, from felt personal love to Christ, would at once leave such far behind. It is the unfaithfulness of Christians that has given the opportunity to the enemy to make false professors. “While men slept the enemy come, and sowed tares.” It is a searching and important point, and demands the most solemn consideration before the Lord as to the path we are each personally pursuing. As long as all were slumbering and sleeping, it was most easy for those who had “no oil” to be found in ostensible association with those who had. But when the heart was aroused towards Christ and glory, and faith and hope in obedience to the divine cry gave impetus and power to those who were really true to the Lord to go forth to meet Him, then the awful discovery became apparent, that many of those found in their ranks were mere professors—had lamps, but “no oil.” And surely it is clear now, that nothing so effectually separates the Lord’s “little flock” from those around, who plead only for outward and visible things—sensational religion, if you please, instead of personal devotedness to Christ in faith, and love, and hope, and obedience to the Word of God—as being practically stirred up to own and follow the Lord at all costs, in blessed hope of soon having every desire of the soul satisfied by seeing Him at His coming.
CHRIST has no place in the natural heart, but He is everything to God’s heart.
WE have in redemption not merely forgiveness, but deliverance. This is what a soul taught of God feels he needs: “Who shall deliver me?” Redemption is a person taken out of the state he was in, by price, and brought into another. It takes us out of our condition as children of Adam, and brings us into the condition of children of God, with all the value of Christ’s work upon us. God has no remedy for the flesh but death.