KEEP WATCHING
"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, 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. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)
Although the purpose of this Night Vigil was to break down the doors, there is one door that cannot be broken down, and that is the door to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the one door that cannot be taken down forcefully. In the above verse, the oil being spoken of is the Holy Spirit; it was only five of the ten virgins who were wise enough to know that they would need to have the Holy Spirit n order to go in with the bridegroom.
The foolish virgins did not realise the importance of having the Holy Spirit and instead they thought they could break into the kingdom of heaven. However, as the Bridegroom clearly told them 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' This means, the Holy Spirit is a seal that guarantees our entrance into the Kingdom of heaven, and without him, we will be left outside.
When the Bridegroom arrived, those who were ready were taken and the door was shut. There is no sacrifice, or prayer that can break down the door, and there is no one who has the key to open this door, all that we can do is keep watching and we should always be prepared for the arrival of the groom.
God does not know those who do not have the oil, He only knows the ones who are watching. So do not waste your life, there are many who are not here today because they did not take life seriously. And for those who are not watching, it is not Satan who closes the door, but it is God Himself who prevents those who are not watching from entering through the door.
This is why you have to give value to yourself, because if God closes the door of heaven, we cannot break it, however, if we keep watching, we will be within the Kingdom of heaven when the Bridegroom comes.
Bishop Bira Fonseca |
