The Parable of the
Wise and Foolish Virgins

• The "imagination" is a whole world inside the mind...
  

Parables are powerful "word-pictures" that are meant to be engrafted into our thinking...as mental pictures do control our thought-life.

That's where the "imagination" gets involved. The imagination allows mental exploration of the past, present, future. It is the ability to see pictures and images in the "movie theater" of the mind. The imagination is the "workshop" of the human mind. It is the only thing in the world we have complete control over. That's why GOD takes great interest of what goes on there, and judges what we allow to grow there - Genesis 6.5

Just enough is not enough.It is impossible for us to calculate the future timing of anything, so we are required to have an abundance, always enough and extra oil on hand

All ten virgins slumbered and fell asleep which is a normal part of our lives. Not knowing the time of the coming of the bridegroom requires that when He arrives, that we have been properly prepared...

When the five foolish virgins asked for some of the extra oil - the wise five refused...

Helping the wrong people at the wrong time can leave us short, with the result of possibly missing the marriage banquet if we run out of required oil-lit lamps...the time was still not clear when they would be allowed in

While the five foolish virgins went out to try and replenish their oil supply, the bridegroom did arrive, and the door was opened.

Because the five wise had properly prepare, and their lamps were brightly lit - they were invited into the banquet

When the five foolish virgins finally arrived back at the banquet after getting more oil - they realize that they are too late - the door is closed and when asked why they could  not enter, they heard that "I do not know you" - "I do not approve you" - you disqualified yourselves by lack of preparation and not having enough to last the wait for the bridegroom... you could have had enough, but you took the risk, and being incomplete in your assignment - you cannot participate.

All the virgins could have been prepared. The foolish virgins wanted the oil given to them - the wise virgins had to "buy" their extra oil, so they are not required to provide a shortcut for the five foolish virgins. Proverbs 23.23 "Buy the truth, and sell it not"

Just because someone "asks" you for something - does not mean you are compelled to give it to them - or to let them give something evil to you - as Eve found out in the Garden in Eden as the Serpent sold her a "lie" - she was only to buy the "truth" - and was at the wrong location for that to happen...

Be smart. Do not second guess how much preparation and supply you may need. The time of His coming is NOT ours to know - keeping our vessel full of extra oil is our responsibility...

• what is the oil in the jar?
• Did they all sleep?
• Would you have refused to give away part of your extra oil, and take the risk for your own future?
• The door was shut. What other Old Testament event tells of a door that was shut by GOD?
• When oil (truth) has to be bought, all have to buy it
• Some people love to put us on a "guilt trip" 
• There will be a time when everyone has to stand on their own - no one will be able to make up another's lack of preparation and supply
• The five foolish virgins took a risk by not bringing along extra oil - and lost. They assumed they would have enough. They gambled with something we have no insight on - the time element of future events!
  

Return to 75 parables