Entrance and Exclusion

During the waiting period, the virgins seemed much alike, even as at this day one can hardly discern the false professor from the true.

When the midnight cry was heard the difference began to appear, as it will do when the Second Advent approaches.

When the Bridegroom was actually come, they were finally divided.

Let us prayerfully consider—

I. THE READY, AND THEIR ENTRANCE.

1. What is this readiness? “They that were ready.”

   • It is not a fruit of nature. None are ready to enter the marriage-feast of glory while they are in an unregenerate condition.
   • It must be a work of grace; since we are unable to make ourselves fit for the vision of God, and the glory of Christ is too bright for us to be naturally fit to share in it.
   • It should be our daily concern. He who is ready for the marriage feast is ready to live, and ready to die—ready for anything.
   • It mainly consists in a secret work wrought in us.
   • In being reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
   • In being regenerated, and so made meet for glory.
   • In being anointed with the Spirit, and fitted for holy service.
   • In being quickened into a high and holy fellowship with God.
   • In being delighted with God, and so being ready to enjoy him.
   • It should be our present inquiry whether we are now “ready.”
   • Some make no profession, never pray, nor praise.
   • Others make profession, but neither love, nor trust; they have lamps, but no oil with which to keep them burning.

2. What is this entrance? A going in unto glory to be forever with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

   • Immediate. “They that were ready went in.” No sooner was the Bridegroom come, than they went in. Love brooks no delays.
   • Intimate. They “went in with him.” This is the glory of Heaven, and the crown of its joys, that we go into them with Jesus, who remains our constant companion therein.
   • Joyous. “They went in with him to the marriage.”
   • Personal. “They went in”: each one entered for herself.
   • Eternal. “The door was shut”—to shut them in forever. “He shuts, and no man opens.” Revelation 3:7.
   • Actual. In all the marriage-festival each one of the wise virgins had a share: indeed, they enjoyed more than appears in the parable, for they were brides, as well as maids of honor.
   • What a world of meaning lies in that abundant entrance which will be ministered to all the faithful! 2 Peter 1:11.

II. THE UNREADY, AND THEIR EXCLUSION.

1. What is this unreadiness?

   • It was the absence of a secret essential; but that absence was consistent with much apparent preparation.
   • These persons had the name and character of virgins.
   • They had the lamps or torches of true bridesmaids.
   • They were companions of the true virgins.
   • They acted like the true; in their virtues and in their faults.
   • They awakened as the true did, startled by the same cry.
   • They prayed also, after a fashion,—“give us of your oil.”
   • Yet were they never ready to enter in with the King.
   • They had no heart-care to be found ready, hence flaming external lamps, but no hidden internal oil.
   • They had no faith-foresight; they had not provided for the probable waiting, and the late coming.
   • They played the fool with Christ’s wedding-feast, not thinking it worth the purchase of a little oil, but going to it with torches which would inevitably go out in smoke.
   • They put off until night what should have been done at once.

2. What is this exclusion?

   • It was universal to all who were not ready.
   • It was complete: “the door was shut,“—shut for those without quite as surely as for those within.
   • It was just; for they were not ready, and so slighted the King.
   • It was final. Since the fatal news that the door was shut, no news has come that it has been opened, or that it ever will be.
   • What if the cry were heard at this moment, “Behold he comes”?
   • As yet the door is not shut. Be ready before it closes.

Flashes From The Lamps

“Uncle Ned,” a colored Baptist of the South, was talking with his former master’s son. “Child,” said the old man solemnly, “your talk is too highfalutin’ for me; but de Bible is plain as A B C, what it says your got ter ‘pent and be baptizen, or your will be damned. Ise erfeared, fact I knows, your’s not dun nuther. ‘Member, honey, ther Scripture says,—‘keep your lamp trum an’ er burning, an’ your ile-can full to pour in it.’ ” “Now, Uncle Ned,” was the evasive reply, “I hope you don’t think my lamp is without oil, do you?” “Child, ‘tain’t even got no wick in it. Fac’ is, Ise erfeared your aren’t even got a lamp,” muttered the old negro, as he mournfully shambled off.

The poet Cowper tells us that, when under conviction of sin, he dreamed that he was walking in Westminster Abbey, waiting for prayers to begin. “Presently I heard the minister’s voice, and hastened towards the choir. Just as I was upon the point of entering, the iron gate under the organ was flung in my face, with a jar that made the Abbey ring. The noise awakened me; and a sentence of excommunication from all the churches upon earth could not have been so dreadful to me as the interpretation which I could not avoid putting upon this dream.”

Have you not felt a fainting of heart, and a bitterness of spirit, when, after much preparation for an important journey, you have arrived at the appointed place, and found that the ship or train, by which you intended to travel, had gone with all who were ready at the appointed time, and left you behind? Can you multiply finitude by infinitude? Can you conceive the dismay which will fill your soul if you come too late to the closed door of Heaven, and begin the hopeless cry, “Lord, Lord, open to us”?—William Arnot.

A lady, who heard Whitefield, in Scotland, preach upon the words, “And the door was shut,” being placed near two dashing young men, but at a considerable distance from the pulpit, witnessed their mirth; and overheard one say, in a low tone, to the other, “Well, what if the door be shut? Another will open.” Thus they turned off the solemnity of the text. Mr. Whitefield had not proceeded far when he said, “It is possible there may be some careless, trifling person here today, who may ward off the force of this impressive subject by lightly thinking, ‘What matter if the door be shut? Another will open.’ ” The two young men were paralyzed, and looked at each other. Mr. Whitefield proceeded: “Yes; another will open. And I will tell you what door it will be: it will be the door of the bottomless pit!—the door of hell!—the door which conceals from the eyes of angels the horrors of damnation!”