SPEAKING to an acquaintance some time ago about eternal realities, I was met with a reply something like this: "Well, after all, I am as good as some of these religious people, anyway!”
He had not grasped the fundamental fact that salvation is not on the ground of goodness at all, is "not of works," but "by faith" (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)), and, like many others, he was resting on an insecure and unsafe foundation. Men ask, and it must be confessed not without reason, "Where is the difference between a man who says he is saved and myself?"' Where, indeed? Let the Scriptures explain!
In Matt. 25 we are told of ten virgins who "went forth to meet the bridegroom." No doubt, to an ordinary observer, these virgins were very much alike. All set out with an object in view, namely, to meet a certain person. But although so much alike to outward appearance, Scripture tells us that "five of them were WISE and five were FOOLISH." Wherein lay the difference? Although unperceived by the casual observer, there was all the difference in the world between these people. In what lay„ then, the wisdom of the wise? Simply in the fact that they "took oil in their vessels with their lamps." In other words, they made provision for the future! Therein lay the difference!
Perhaps you are intent on providing for a day when misfortune may overtake you: when you may have what you call "a stroke of bad luck." You are careful to make provision for that, but what about the time when you shall leave this life? Are you ready for what comes after death? If not, surely this is foolishness indeed, to provide for a short space of time,— all that is left of life,—and to think nothing of eternity.
Then there was another difference. Five went to the marriage, and five did not. Then was seen the result of being ready or unready.
And in a future day those who in their lifetime have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation, for there is no other way of providing for the eternal future but that, will spend eternity with Him where He is. Will you?
The parable concludes, "And the door was shut." Shut on those who might have been inside. Friend, take care that the door of salvation does not shut on you. If you die unsaved, and spend eternity in hell, then you will see the difference. May God so convict you of your sin that you shall take refuge in the sinner's Savior." A. J. C.