This past weekend, I removed my house key, and my garage door key fob from my usual huge collection of keys.
It was sitting on the table next to me last night.
This morning, I went out for a walk with my husband and dog, with my cell phone documenting the walk for me! Jim had the keys.
Because Jim took the walk with me, I wanted to give him a lift over to the park and ride to catch the bus. I grabbed my keys, my purse, and the dog and walked out to the truck. Jim locked the house behind us. I prayed with him at the bus station, and headed home. First clue something was wrong…I didn’t have the key fob to let me back into the community!!! So, I ignored the rules and drove in the open out gate after someone left. I drove up to my parking space, parked, grabbed everything, and told Gabe to get out…and then, it hit me…my house keys are on the same ring as the community AND garage door opener key fob! I was LOCKED OUT!
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
:2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish.
:3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Every one of them were virgins…all setting themselves apart, keeping themselves pure for the bridegroom.
Every one of them had a lamp.
Every one of them had access to oil. It doesn’t say they were poor and couldn’t get any oil, it says they were foolish and didn’t take any oil.
Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
:6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
I was so distracted by my conversation with Jim(my bridegroom), that I did not pick up the key ring that was RIGHT BY MY PURSE!!! I left so fast, I didn’t even pick up my phone! No wonder this little purse is so light! I was NOT prepared!
A few friends have had stories about locking themselves out recently. Each one had some resource that enabled them to protect themselves from danger.
One got frostbite being barefoot in freezing weather, but she was able to get into her car to stay warm, and drive for help. She remembered a hidden key!
Another thought she was locked out, in her night clothes. She borrowed clothes from the scarecrow, and later, found out that a door that was always locked, was open, leading straight into her kitchen. She wandered around, looking to break in, when the door was already open.
Who would have thought that being locked out could be a life or death matter?
Being locked out of heaven is a LIFE or DEATH matter!
Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
As the virgins awoke and trimmed their lamps – some found that they were without oil. They had run out.
As I came up to the gate, I found that I was without keys, or clicker. The windows were all locked. My options had run out!
Matt 25: 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
:9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
The one friend was blessed. She was able to drive the car to WalMart, call her mom, and with various people involved, got help to get back into her new apartment.
The other friend was blessed. A door that was normally locked, was open, and she was free to walk right into her kitchen.
This morning, I was blessed. I have a wonderful neighbor that I could wake up at 7:30am, and she let me in, gave me water to drink, and we had a great hour and a half of visiting.
Not so much for the virgins that were not prepared.
Matt 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
;10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
The door was shut.
Locked out.
Intense desire to get IN.
No way to do it alone.
The one friend – with phone calls, and a friend’s Dad, she got a key that was able to get her back into her apartment.
The other friend – someone left a door unlocked, and she was able to get right in.
I was able to go to the Office, and one of the ladies gave me a copy of my key, and I was able get back in.
The five ill prepared virgins couldn’t get in. They needed the key!
Matt 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
The friend that needed to get back into her office had her ID verified in a casual way, by meeting her friend’s dad for help.
The other friend owned the house…she knew who she was.
When I went to the office, I have to give them my ID, to hold until I brought the copies back. They wanted proof of who I am!
The virgins that did not MEET the Bridegroom BEFORE the entrance to the wedding feast WERE NOT KNOWN, and therefore they WERE NOT PERMITTED IN. Only this time, it’s not just a party, it’s eternal.
THEY WERE LOCKED OUT! They didn’t have the key.
What was the key? Knowing the Bridegroom.
Simply:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
It wasn’t the Bridegroom’s fault that the five virgins were left outside. They did not prepare, and were not ready, they did not endure to the end.
If we do not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, it’s not because we have not been given everything needed to do so, it’s because we have been lazy, not preparing, and not choosing that which leads us to the narrow gate.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Today, I got so distracted, I didn’t stop to think, and I had to avail upon the help of others to get into my home.
Someday, I will walk to the gate of heaven, and again, I will have to avail upon the help of another to get into my eternal home. The blood of Jesus Christ redeemed me from my sin, IF I apply it. The KEY to entering into the wedding feast of the Lamb of God is to be WASHED by His blood, CLOTHED in the wedding garment of white, and KNOWN by HIM.
I do not want to allow the distractions of this world to cause me to run out of oil in those final moments.
By faith, I continue to choose this path, and I look forward to the day that He comes, and then, in the celebration of His reign, I will enter in with HIM, as His bride.
Everyone can enter in. Everyone has John 3:16. No one has to be left outside. Choose ye, this day, whom ye shall serve.
Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
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Great post!