Harley's Cornerstone Vault

Keep Your Lamp Burning: Daily Devotional

The parable of the ten virgins is not a message for the world — it is a warning to the Church.

All ten virgins had lamps. All ten expected the bridegroom. All ten were waiting. Yet only five were ready when He came.

Jesus is sounding an alarm to every generation, but I believe that alarm is growing louder in these final hours of the Church age. The signs around us are increasing. Darkness is spreading. Compromise is becoming common. Many who once burned with passion for Christ are allowing their lamps to grow dim.

The difference between the wise and foolish virgins was not their appearance. It was not their profession of faith. It was the oil.

Oil throughout Scripture often represents the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. The wise maintained a personal relationship with God. They stayed filled. They stayed watchful. They stayed prepared. The foolish assumed there would always be more time.

How many believers today are living as though Jesus will never return? How many have allowed prayer to become occasional, the Word of God to gather dust, and holiness to become optional? The cry at midnight is approaching: “Behold, the Bridegroom is coming!”

Matthew 25:1–13 (NKJV) Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”