Virgins, by Aije Barnes, February 2, issue 1, Vol 6

The word Virgin in the bible, refers to the Church. By this, I am not referring to any one particular domination or building but rather the bride of Christ. 

A virgin is described as being pure; unsullied; undefiled This is the context being used in this ministration. Before I delve into the ministration let me share with you what happened to me. 

During a 21 day fasting and praying session last December, I decided to take a prayer walk over a bridge near my place of work during my lunch break. During that walk the word of God came to me reminding me of the story Jesus gave about the 10 Virgins. It was strongly impressed on my heart that we are experiencing those days now and that the warning must go out that the bridegroom will soon come but the danger is some Virgins are not ready just like the five foolish ones in the bible. 

I also dreamt of the end times and in that dream saw that the suffering in the world was incredible especially for the Christians who I saw in my dream. The freedom to speak about Jesus was greatly oppressed and those who did or expressed their love for him were sorely persecuted, even very young children. It broke my heart. In my dream I sensed that  we were in times where you needed to be wise to survive. There were very dark times indeed in more ways than one. It looked like perpetual twilight. 

Let's go back to the story Jesus told: 

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:1-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You will note they were all virgins but what distinguished the five from the other was wisdom. The wise virgins took extra oil in jars for their lamps while the foolish ones didn't. 

You will also note that all the virgins had light in their lamps but the light in the foolish virgins' lamps began to go out and they had no reserves of their own at the most critical time that they needed it. They couldn't rely on anyone else to give it to them. They were deficient because they failed to prepare before hand and missed out on the wedding banquet. Not only was this very painful but that pain was compounded by the bridegroom telling them that he did not know them! But they were Christians! Why weren't they known by Jesus? Jesus, as you guessed rightly, is the bridegroom and though the five foolish virgins thought they knew him and had the right to join him at the wedding banquet, he didn't even know them! How sad! 

But that sadly is the case for a lot of Christians today. They are not ready for Jesus' second coming; they have no reserves to stoke up the flame within them and thy feel they can rely on their relationship with their church, Christian friends or families, to get into heaven without having their own personal relationship with God. 

Jesus is coming for a pure bride. When we first accepted him as our Lord and Saviour his blood washed away all our sins and God wants us to stay clean as he says here:

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬. 

But how many of us keep ourselves pure? How easily are we enticed to our old sinful ways and blend in with the world so that there is no distinction between us and those who do not know Christ?

We need to always be on our guard because the devil is still on the prowl looking for ways to stop us from being ready when Jesus comes as shown in the following scripture:

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We all need to be prepared and have  enough oil in reserve, to stoke up the flames in our lamp so that when our bridegroom comes, we will not be found wanting and unknown by him. 

You can only know Jesus and be known of him if you spend time with him. You can only do this by speaking with him in prayer and allowing him to speak to you through reading his word and allowing him to continue to wash you clean and transform you through his word. Obedience to his word is key, for therein lies wisdom. Remember Jesus said: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus also said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If as Jesus said we are the light of the world, we have a duty to ensure that what keeps the flame alight does not dry out and that we shine brightly for him in this world. This will only happen if we keep his commandments. He is the source of our life and light and the more we spend time with him and keep his commandments, the brighter our light will be. We are to take our light to this dark world and light the world for Jesus. 

So take  your lamp make sure you have plenty of oil in it and in reserve and go light the world. Take the message of hope and the love of Christ to this world. He that is wise saves souls. 

Shalom