Darkness looms on the horizon, do you have extra oil to keep your lamp shining?
Morning Manna with love ~ July 31, 2015
Our Light Must Shine In the Darkness
We live at a time of dense spiritual darkness when our lamps need to be full of oil to light our pathway leading to our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Am I a wise or foolish virgin? Am I short on oil and if so, why? How and where do I get the oil from? How do I keep an overflow supply? What happens if I wait to the last minute and ask a wise virgin for some of their oil? These are all good questions that I will try to answer in this blog from the scriptures.
I asked the Lord why did the wise virgins tell the foolish virgins to go and buy oil, wasn't it free? So, I was thinking, and this is my own take on what happened. The wise virgins knew what was up with the foolish virgins. Their answer to the foolish virgins was rhetorical, I think. It's like this, you ask me a stupid question, I'll give you a stupid answer. As PRECIOUS as the OIL is, why would I (wise virgin) give my oil away to you (foolish virgin) when you also had ACCESS to the FREE FLOW of OIL as I did. In other words, the wise virgins knew the foolish had enough time and knowledge to know how to get extra oil for themselves. So, their lack of oil was due to their own selfishness, laziness, and foolish behavior.
The Lord helped me to understand, although the OIL is FREE flowing, the oil does cost us something. The currency to buy the oil is not as obvious as today's currency of money as we know it to be. The currency to purchase the oil is called TIME. TIME is the most valuable currency of today and it is a free gift from the Lord to everyone. Every day we wake up and breathe we are given more time, FREE of charge. So therefore, that makes the OIL we can PURCHASE with TIME FREE. However, what must be weighed in the analysis of this parable are several variables by which determine whether we are one of the foolish or wise virgins. The clincher here is found in how the currency of time is spent. We can buy many different things with our money. So it is with time. It can be used to purchase many things besides the much-needed OIL in our illustration. Rationally we can conclude that the foolish virgins expended their time pursuing their own things rather than the things of God.
Are We Wise or Foolish with Our Time?
Obviously, the foolish virgins didn't spend their TIME wisely seeking the Lord getting to know him intimately or personably. Both the foolish and the wise virgins had the Word of God at their disposal. Only the wise however used their allotted TIME wisely, TIME being the ONLY currency needed to purchase the extra oil required. The time came when both the wise and foolish virgins time ran out when the bridegroom arrived. Sadly, the foolish had no oil left to keep their lamps lit to see their way in a dark world. No doubt as their lights were going out, they were being reminded how at one time they were healthy vines attached to the olive tree whose branches had become detached and were dying. The most obvious and simple answer of this parable is that the oil they needed was the Holy Spirit. Yet it goes much deeper than that.
The oil which is the Holy Spirit is found in the Word, the written Word of God, the Holy Bible and in the living Word, Jesus Christ. We live in a complex world which puts a lot of demands on our time. The wise virgins utilized their currency of TIME to buy out time from their busy schedule to study and meditate on the Word of God, thereby receiving an impartation of God's Holy Spirit which is Christ in us, the living Word. As we study and meditate on the Word, we come to know Jesus as a person and we are able to develop a close personal relationship with him and the Father through the Holy Spirit.
TIME is of the essence when it comes to buying out the opportune time for ourselves. Why? Because the days are indeed wicked. The Lord will soon return, and he will come as a thief to those who are not paying attention, not ready, unprepared and have no oil left in their lamps. The profound darkness of this world will overtake them because they have either gone back to sleep, are drunk off the maddening wine of this world, sick and depressed, and just running low or completely out of oil which is needed to keep going in a dark world such as this.
Signs We Are Running Low or Out of Oil
If you can't see any hope in your future at all and feel everything is hopeless, you're either low on oil or even more so completely out. We know the oil is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, you must be born again to see the kingdom of God. The impartation of the Holy Spirit is a personable unforgettable experience. The bible calls him the "Comforter". He's my best friend who leads me in the way to go. We follow his lead in this dark world which will ultimately lead us to the day of Christ return or the end of our life on earth. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit the fruits of the Holy Spirit will manifest in our life as a witness to the glory of God. His spirit keeps us going as a comforter when times get really hard and we're going through severe trials, testing and persecution. One special fruit of the spirit is "JOY". If we lack joy of the spirit, we know we are running low or even completely out of oil.
Jesus knew we would get tired, feel hard pressed to the point of wanting to give up altogether. This is why he said he would leave us with the comforter. Feeling happy in such circumstances is unrealistic and not what God expects but he promised he would never put on us more than we can bear. He will sustain us and even give us a JOY that's unspeakable in the midst of severe trials. I have felt so much JOY when under pressure that I knew without a doubt it was the Lord's presence. Peace is another fruit of his spirit. He gives peace that surpasses all understanding. No one would understand even we ourselves would ever understand how we can feel this immense JOY and PEACE under such trying circumstances that we may be undergoing in this dark world. But only with oil in our lamp will we have the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit to get us through as He supplies the much-needed extra oil as the days grow more wicked. Compare Romans 5:1-5
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we REJOICE in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also REJOICE in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:1-5 NIV
If you had an overflow of oil at one time and find that you have somehow lost your JOY and PEACE, it's likely that you have given all your oil away or just used it all on yourself. It's time to replenish your supply now. We need to open and read our bible and meditate upon God's promises to draw strength as he imparts his spirit upon us. Also, make time for prayer and communing with the Lord, another way to get more oil. It's imperative we keep an overflow to keep our lamps full and lit in this dark world. We know what happened to those who were out of oil when the Lord came as a thief. The door will be opened at a specific time, a day and hour we know not so we must be ready and watching every day. The foolish were unprepared and waited too late to get prepared. They wanted to go in, but the door had been shut. Jesus refused to open the door to them and said I don't know you. That's a harsh statement but truth can be harsh. It's better to be informed now so that we can make wise decisions now that will shape our destiny to be included among the wise virgins.
(Eph 5:15-17 NIV) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
We must know what the will of the Lord is. All the signs around implore us to wake up because the bridegroom is coming. This is not the time to go back to sleep as is the case likely with some of the foolish virgins. All the virgins heard the call that the bridegroom was coming. They all started out on the same road going out to meet the bridegroom upon his arrival. It is time for self examination. If you are wondering what would indicate whether I am spiritually asleep or awake, consider this. Those that are awake can see that many things going on in the world today are clear signs and signals of the Lord's soon return. So, you may now say, oh good I'm AWAKE then. I know what the scriptures say, and I can see all the signs. Yes, but is this enough?
(1Thess 5:6 NIV) 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
(Rev 16:15 NIV) 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
TIME for Self-Examination
OK, upon self-examination we will realize whether we are awake and recognize how we are spending our time when awake. There is more to realizing we are awake to what's happening in the world. Being awake also signifies how one spends their AWAKE TIME, yet there's more required in the determining factors of whether one is a wise or foolish virgin. The scripture says not only should we stay awake but also, we must remain clothed and not go naked being shamefully exposed. If one's time is being spent pursuing the things of the world, being entertained by the worldly demoralizing entertainment, our precious currency of time is being wasted. Association with the world removes our clothes, our spiritual covering of God's Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit the fruits one could bear are replaced by the works of the flesh, which leads to shame, being left out of the presence of God. No oil can be attained in such a lifestyle of pursuits as this. Only maddening wine is what one will get for their currency of time in these pursuits which leads to being spiritually intoxicated, in other words drunk. This maddening wine leads to spiritual ruin, a state of confusion, becoming too weak and tired to do anything related to your spiritual edification. This is why the Lord warns us....
(Ephesians 5:18 ) 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual debauchery is utter ruin. Let us therefore spend time in pursuits that invite us into the opened door to put us in God's presence. There we can sing songs from our heart, songs of praise and worship and thanksgiving, simply thanking the Lord for all he has done and seeking his spirit. Be WISE with your TIME, it's the most valuable currency above all. It's worth more than all the gold and silver in the world. We need to buy extra oil now while we can. It's free! Oil that comes from the Holy Spirit by way of the written Word, the Holy Bible and the living Word, Jesus Christ. The wise virgins had their overflow of oil recognizing the price was small when compared to what they were receiving with their precious currency of time. It was a currency well spent, being worth every second of their time spent studying and meditating upon the Word of God. All the more was their getting to spend time soaking in the presence of the Lord with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Most important, our getting to know the Lord means life, everlasting life. See John 17:3 Don't be one of the FOOLISH virgins where Jesus will close the door and say, I don't know you!
(Matt 25: 10-13) 10 "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. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
(John 17:2-3 NKJV) 2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
More Scriptures for reference:
(Matt 25:1-13 NIV) 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 " '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.' 10 "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. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
(1Thess 5:6 NIV) 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
(Rev 16:15 NIV) 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
(Eph 5:15-20 NIV) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1Peter 1:23 NIV) 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
(Heb 4:12 NASB) 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Psalm 119:48, 97, 148 NIV) 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. ... 97 Mem Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. ... 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
(John 1:1, 14 KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(Act 4:31 KJV) 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
(Act 6:4 KJV) 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
(Act 10:44 KJV) 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
(John 12:35 KJV) 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
(Rom 13:12 KJV) 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
(2Co 4:6 KJV) 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(1Thess 5:4-5 KJV) 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
(1Pet 2:9 KJV) 9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(1Pet 5:5 KJV) 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
(Rev 3:5, 18 KJV) 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ... 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(Gal 5:19-25 KJV) 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(Rom 5:1-5 NIV) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
We live at a time of dense spiritual darkness when our lamps need to be full of oil to light our pathway leading to our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Am I a wise or foolish virgin? Am I short on oil and if so, why? How and where do I get the oil from? How do I keep an overflow supply? What happens if I wait to the last minute and ask a wise virgin for some of their oil? These are all good questions that I will try to answer in this blog from the scriptures.
I asked the Lord why did the wise virgins tell the foolish virgins to go and buy oil, wasn't it free? So, I was thinking, and this is my own take on what happened. The wise virgins knew what was up with the foolish virgins. Their answer to the foolish virgins was rhetorical, I think. It's like this, you ask me a stupid question, I'll give you a stupid answer. As PRECIOUS as the OIL is, why would I (wise virgin) give my oil away to you (foolish virgin) when you also had ACCESS to the FREE FLOW of OIL as I did. In other words, the wise virgins knew the foolish had enough time and knowledge to know how to get extra oil for themselves. So, their lack of oil was due to their own selfishness, laziness, and foolish behavior.
The Lord helped me to understand, although the OIL is FREE flowing, the oil does cost us something. The currency to buy the oil is not as obvious as today's currency of money as we know it to be. The currency to purchase the oil is called TIME. TIME is the most valuable currency of today and it is a free gift from the Lord to everyone. Every day we wake up and breathe we are given more time, FREE of charge. So therefore, that makes the OIL we can PURCHASE with TIME FREE. However, what must be weighed in the analysis of this parable are several variables by which determine whether we are one of the foolish or wise virgins. The clincher here is found in how the currency of time is spent. We can buy many different things with our money. So it is with time. It can be used to purchase many things besides the much-needed OIL in our illustration. Rationally we can conclude that the foolish virgins expended their time pursuing their own things rather than the things of God.
Are We Wise or Foolish with Our Time?
Obviously, the foolish virgins didn't spend their TIME wisely seeking the Lord getting to know him intimately or personably. Both the foolish and the wise virgins had the Word of God at their disposal. Only the wise however used their allotted TIME wisely, TIME being the ONLY currency needed to purchase the extra oil required. The time came when both the wise and foolish virgins time ran out when the bridegroom arrived. Sadly, the foolish had no oil left to keep their lamps lit to see their way in a dark world. No doubt as their lights were going out, they were being reminded how at one time they were healthy vines attached to the olive tree whose branches had become detached and were dying. The most obvious and simple answer of this parable is that the oil they needed was the Holy Spirit. Yet it goes much deeper than that.
The oil which is the Holy Spirit is found in the Word, the written Word of God, the Holy Bible and in the living Word, Jesus Christ. We live in a complex world which puts a lot of demands on our time. The wise virgins utilized their currency of TIME to buy out time from their busy schedule to study and meditate on the Word of God, thereby receiving an impartation of God's Holy Spirit which is Christ in us, the living Word. As we study and meditate on the Word, we come to know Jesus as a person and we are able to develop a close personal relationship with him and the Father through the Holy Spirit.
TIME is of the essence when it comes to buying out the opportune time for ourselves. Why? Because the days are indeed wicked. The Lord will soon return, and he will come as a thief to those who are not paying attention, not ready, unprepared and have no oil left in their lamps. The profound darkness of this world will overtake them because they have either gone back to sleep, are drunk off the maddening wine of this world, sick and depressed, and just running low or completely out of oil which is needed to keep going in a dark world such as this.
Signs We Are Running Low or Out of Oil
If you can't see any hope in your future at all and feel everything is hopeless, you're either low on oil or even more so completely out. We know the oil is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, you must be born again to see the kingdom of God. The impartation of the Holy Spirit is a personable unforgettable experience. The bible calls him the "Comforter". He's my best friend who leads me in the way to go. We follow his lead in this dark world which will ultimately lead us to the day of Christ return or the end of our life on earth. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit the fruits of the Holy Spirit will manifest in our life as a witness to the glory of God. His spirit keeps us going as a comforter when times get really hard and we're going through severe trials, testing and persecution. One special fruit of the spirit is "JOY". If we lack joy of the spirit, we know we are running low or even completely out of oil.
Jesus knew we would get tired, feel hard pressed to the point of wanting to give up altogether. This is why he said he would leave us with the comforter. Feeling happy in such circumstances is unrealistic and not what God expects but he promised he would never put on us more than we can bear. He will sustain us and even give us a JOY that's unspeakable in the midst of severe trials. I have felt so much JOY when under pressure that I knew without a doubt it was the Lord's presence. Peace is another fruit of his spirit. He gives peace that surpasses all understanding. No one would understand even we ourselves would ever understand how we can feel this immense JOY and PEACE under such trying circumstances that we may be undergoing in this dark world. But only with oil in our lamp will we have the comfort and help of the Holy Spirit to get us through as He supplies the much-needed extra oil as the days grow more wicked. Compare Romans 5:1-5
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we REJOICE in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also REJOICE in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:1-5 NIV
If you had an overflow of oil at one time and find that you have somehow lost your JOY and PEACE, it's likely that you have given all your oil away or just used it all on yourself. It's time to replenish your supply now. We need to open and read our bible and meditate upon God's promises to draw strength as he imparts his spirit upon us. Also, make time for prayer and communing with the Lord, another way to get more oil. It's imperative we keep an overflow to keep our lamps full and lit in this dark world. We know what happened to those who were out of oil when the Lord came as a thief. The door will be opened at a specific time, a day and hour we know not so we must be ready and watching every day. The foolish were unprepared and waited too late to get prepared. They wanted to go in, but the door had been shut. Jesus refused to open the door to them and said I don't know you. That's a harsh statement but truth can be harsh. It's better to be informed now so that we can make wise decisions now that will shape our destiny to be included among the wise virgins.
(Eph 5:15-17 NIV) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
We must know what the will of the Lord is. All the signs around implore us to wake up because the bridegroom is coming. This is not the time to go back to sleep as is the case likely with some of the foolish virgins. All the virgins heard the call that the bridegroom was coming. They all started out on the same road going out to meet the bridegroom upon his arrival. It is time for self examination. If you are wondering what would indicate whether I am spiritually asleep or awake, consider this. Those that are awake can see that many things going on in the world today are clear signs and signals of the Lord's soon return. So, you may now say, oh good I'm AWAKE then. I know what the scriptures say, and I can see all the signs. Yes, but is this enough?
(1Thess 5:6 NIV) 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
(Rev 16:15 NIV) 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
TIME for Self-Examination
OK, upon self-examination we will realize whether we are awake and recognize how we are spending our time when awake. There is more to realizing we are awake to what's happening in the world. Being awake also signifies how one spends their AWAKE TIME, yet there's more required in the determining factors of whether one is a wise or foolish virgin. The scripture says not only should we stay awake but also, we must remain clothed and not go naked being shamefully exposed. If one's time is being spent pursuing the things of the world, being entertained by the worldly demoralizing entertainment, our precious currency of time is being wasted. Association with the world removes our clothes, our spiritual covering of God's Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit the fruits one could bear are replaced by the works of the flesh, which leads to shame, being left out of the presence of God. No oil can be attained in such a lifestyle of pursuits as this. Only maddening wine is what one will get for their currency of time in these pursuits which leads to being spiritually intoxicated, in other words drunk. This maddening wine leads to spiritual ruin, a state of confusion, becoming too weak and tired to do anything related to your spiritual edification. This is why the Lord warns us....
(Ephesians 5:18 ) 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual debauchery is utter ruin. Let us therefore spend time in pursuits that invite us into the opened door to put us in God's presence. There we can sing songs from our heart, songs of praise and worship and thanksgiving, simply thanking the Lord for all he has done and seeking his spirit. Be WISE with your TIME, it's the most valuable currency above all. It's worth more than all the gold and silver in the world. We need to buy extra oil now while we can. It's free! Oil that comes from the Holy Spirit by way of the written Word, the Holy Bible and the living Word, Jesus Christ. The wise virgins had their overflow of oil recognizing the price was small when compared to what they were receiving with their precious currency of time. It was a currency well spent, being worth every second of their time spent studying and meditating upon the Word of God. All the more was their getting to spend time soaking in the presence of the Lord with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Most important, our getting to know the Lord means life, everlasting life. See John 17:3 Don't be one of the FOOLISH virgins where Jesus will close the door and say, I don't know you!
(Matt 25: 10-13) 10 "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. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
(John 17:2-3 NKJV) 2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
More Scriptures for reference:
(Matt 25:1-13 NIV) 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 " '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.' 10 "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. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
(1Thess 5:6 NIV) 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
(Rev 16:15 NIV) 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
(Eph 5:15-20 NIV) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1Peter 1:23 NIV) 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
(Heb 4:12 NASB) 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Psalm 119:48, 97, 148 NIV) 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. ... 97 Mem Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. ... 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
(John 1:1, 14 KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(Act 4:31 KJV) 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
(Act 6:4 KJV) 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
(Act 10:44 KJV) 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
(John 12:35 KJV) 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
(Rom 13:12 KJV) 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
(2Co 4:6 KJV) 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(1Thess 5:4-5 KJV) 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
(1Pet 2:9 KJV) 9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(1Pet 5:5 KJV) 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
(Rev 3:5, 18 KJV) 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ... 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(Gal 5:19-25 KJV) 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(Rom 5:1-5 NIV) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
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