What Happens When The Church Wakes Up?

 Matthew 25:1-13

“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 ones, 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. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Many have opined, quite accurately, that with all of the evil happening in our nation and the world that the church has been asleep. Some have opined that the church in the western world is a sleeping giant. 

I believe there are some things in this parable that we need to look at and take seriously because we may find out the modern church is not as much of a giant as we think it is.

I need to start with somewhat of a disclaimer. I believe it is vital to not go beyond what is written. In this case I may have pushed the envelope a little bit, although I am refering to something that is in the text even though it isn't really talked about.

One thing to note is that because much time passed before the bridegroom came they ALL slept. It has been nearly 2,000 years since Jesus ascended to heaven. Prosperity in the western church has has made us soft and lazy. It has been pretty quiet as far as persecution, causing the church to sluggishly slip into a slumber. 

As these ten virgins slept they were indistinguishable from each other. They all looked pretty much the same while they slumbered. In the same way, often during good, restful times it is very difficult to tell true and false converts apart. It isn't until the call goes out that it is time to wake up that it suddenly becomes apparent who  and what they really are.

So while the virgins waited and slumbered they all appeared the same. It was after the call went out to meet the bridegroom that the difference became apparent.

Oil is often used in the Bible to represent the Holy Spirit and it is no different in this case. While they waited and slumbered they didn't need the oil and they could blend in with those who had plenty of oil. In the same way, during peaceful good times when there is no persecution it is easy for false converts to fit in with the true converts. But when difficulty comes it becomes apparent which ones really are followers of Christ and which ones aren't.

So while some have opined that the church is a sleeping giant, I am concerned that hard times may reveal that the church is really quite small. Is it possible that when persecution comes there may not be very many who have oil in their lamps?

It is imperative that we all heed the admonition in 2 Corinthians 13:5;

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not    realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?"

Make sure you have plenty of oil for your lamps.