125. The Prayer Of The Five Foolish Virgins.

The Prayer Of The Five Foolish Virgins. The Prayer as recorded.—Matthew 25:11. The Lord’s Answer.—Matthew 25:12-13. The short prayer contained in this forcible parable is full of deep meaning and vital interest to every soul. Ere we pass it by, would it not be well for us to examine ourselves as to which class we belong— to the wise or the foolish? Have we oil in our lamps, and are they trimmed and burning, or are we slumbering in darkness? In one of these classes each of us has taken his position, and it becomes us to see what answer will be made when we offer the petition, “Lord open unto us.” If we are not on the side of the wise, in vain will be our cry; if we are not watching, with our lamps trimmed and burning, we will find no entrance into the kingdom of our blessed Lord; but we have a promise, sure because it is Jehovah’s, that if we are ready we may enter in. There are many about us who are bearing their lamps, but we fear they are empty. In ignorance, it may be, they are carrying them without oil, and they are neither trimmed nor burning. Some who are bearing the name of Christian, some who have enlisted under the “Captain of Salvation,” but who are resting in darkness, shall find when they reach the shadowy valley there will be no light to guide them through its mazes—the door of that city, whose builder and maker is God, will be closed upon them forever. Oh, how earnestly we would plead with the careless to look at and ponder over this prayer. There is a deep meaning in its figurative language. Let every Christian weigh well this meaning; let him see to it his own lamp is trimmed and burning, that others, seeing his light, may be led to the path which he has chosen—a path of peace and righteousness, and one that leads to “That land, and that alone, Where tears are all forgotten, And sorrow is unknown.”