“AFTERWARD came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not” (Matt. 25:11, 1211Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:11‑12)). Professing Christian, this is the Lord’s warning voice to you. What is your profession worth? “Afterward came also the other virgins,” &c. Who are they? Those who professed but possessed not. The bridegroom had come, and the wise virgins had entered in. The wondrous event prefigured in this likeness of the kingdom might happen this moment. The Bridegroom, Christ, is coming. And all the true Christians, those who are ready, possessors of eternal life and the Holy Ghost, will enter and share His glory in a moment. But the same door which will shut the wise in, will shut the foolish out. The possessors will be with Christ on high, the professors shut outside the door of grace below. How would it be with you? Are you ready? Would you be inside or out were the Lord to come today?
“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.” Afterward! Beloved reader, think of it; how deeply solemn! Afterward. After Christ shall have come; after the redeemed shall have entered in; after the day of grace shall have passed; after the long-suffering of God with pressing Christendom is exhausted; after the door is shut; “afterward came also the other virgins,” &c, Alas! alas! for all who are found amongst them. A closed door, shut fast, and shut forever. The saved caught up to meet the heavenly Bridegroom, and to sing His praises round the throne of God, the unsaved left behind to pray for admittance when it is too late. The saints in glory sing, “Thou art worthy, for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)); the sinners on earth cry, “Lord, Lord, open to us;” but cry and cry in vain. Ah! “many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out demons, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:22, 2322Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22‑23)). The profession of His name will go or even after the Lord has come. Many will still cry, Lord, Lord, forgetting His query, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:4646And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)).
Dear reader, will you let these golden moments pass by, and run the risk of being found outside that closed door of grace? Will you be foolish enough to expose yourself to the awful danger of learning when it is too late the deeply solemn meaning of that word “afterward.” Will you, dare you, continue to neglect Christ’s warning word? Think of the awful remorse of all who meant to be inside that door, but who went on satisfied with a mere form of godliness, a name to live and yet dead, and find when it is too late to remedy it, that all their profession was nothing worth. Christendom is full of foolish virgins, professors with their lamps. Tens of thousands profess the name of Christ and have lamps; but alas, how few comparatively have oil in their vessels with their lamps. How few are saved, and sealed with the Holy Ghost! Are you one?
Professor or possessor you are, unless you are an avowed infidel. We suppose you were baptized as a Christian; most likely you go to a church or chapel and have been trained in the Christian faith. If you are married, it was as a Christian. And if you were to die and be buried, it would be on the same footing. Well, there is your profession; but what is it worth? Are you a believer, forgiven, saved, scaled with the Holy Spirit of God? Are you a Christian in truth and in deed? Are you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus? Or are you foolishly living day by day, without Christ, and in your sins? Are you one of the wise or foolish virgins? Answer now in the secret of your own soul before God, and if still foolish, be wise now ere it be too late. “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” (Deut. 32:2929O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! (Deuteronomy 32:29)).
“Lord, Lord, open to us,” “Lord, Lord, open to us,” is the vain and bitter cry that will go up from myriads of lips at that awful moment. Yes, and that agonizing prayer will be heard. It will reach the ear of the Lord and elicit a deeply solemn reply. “But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Had He known you, you had known Him also, and been found amongst the ranks of the wise. “I know my sheep, and am known of mine,” He said elsewhere (John 10:1414I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:14)). But to the foolish, He replied, “I know you not.” Alas, alas! it is too late then. Oh foolish professors, be warned in the day of His abounding grace, whilst the Bridegroom still tarries on high. Respond now to the wondrous love of God, manifested in the gift of His Son. He died for the guilty and the lost; died for sinners, died for professors, died for all. Christ’s work is done, and God is satisfied therewith. He finished it, and God is glorified therein (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)). And God raised Him from the dead for the justification of every one that believeth (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)).
Tear aside then with your own hand the mask of your worldly profession, and come out in your true colors. Confess your folly and sin, and believe on Him, even Jesus, the risen and exalted Saviour at God’s right hand. His precious blood will cleanse you from all your guilty stains. Believe in Him and your sins are all forgiven; eternal life is yours, and you shall be sealed with the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)), the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. Yes, you shall become wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus, and be ready to enter in. Delay not, lest it be too late; run no longer-hither and thither to buy oil where it cannot be had; but come now, while it is yet the day of salvation, to Jesus, the only Saviour, who sells you all you need without money and without price. Eternal life and the Holy Ghost are the free gifts of God to everyone that believeth. Come then, oh! come to Him now, and you shall never hear that awful reply, “I know you not;” “I know you not.”
“Watch therefore,” said the Lord in warning, “for ye know neither the day nor the hour.” Every moment brings us nearer to that eventful hour, fraught with infinite bliss for the feeblest believer in Jesus; but with infinite misery for all who, whatever their profession, have failed to trust in Him. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” the Bridegroom will come (1 Cor. 15:5252In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)). His promise is sure. Any day, any hour, any moment, His people may hear His welcome, well-known voice, the heavenly summons to the everlasting glory of God. Dear reader, does your heart beat with joy at the thought of it? Or would His return be the seal of your eternal doom? Come He will; come He may as you read these words. Are you ready?
In a moment the door will be shut, shut fast, shut close, and shut forever, the saved within, the unsaved without. Now, ere we close, which shall it be with you? Look to it. Be decided. Once again, salvation is offered to you. Accept it now, just as you are, and you are ready to go in. May God in His grace lead you to exchange a worthless profession for the blessed possession of His priceless gifts, “eternal life” and “the Holy Ghost.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)). And you will find it true, as thousands have done, that “After that ye (or having) believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)). Thus will you be ready to go in, and assuredly be claimed by the Lord as His own at that blessed moment. The Lord grant that so it may be.
E. H. C.