Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Isaiah 65:17-25
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
You are stewards of a great treasure, a precious pearl of great price. I am not talking about your health, or your wealth, your family, your possessions, your church, or even your life – I’m talking about your faith. Your faith, you see, is not something that you can create, or earn, or choose, or purchase, or anything of the sort – your faith is a gift of the LORD that is created in you by the Holy Spirit through the Word of the LORD. And like anything that is valuable and precious, you must protect your faith and tend to it and care for it. That is what it means to be prepared for the coming of the Bridegroom Jesus Christ. That is what it means to have oil in your lamps and oil to spare should the Bridegroom be delayed. If you care about your faith, if it is precious to you and you treasure it, then you will be diligent to protect it, tend to it, care for it, and keep yourself full of it. For the Bridegroom is coming at a day and hour you cannot know. And when he comes, will he find faith on earth? Will he find you in faith? Yes, yes, he will, if you care enough about it to protect it, tend to it, care for it, and keep it.
The ten virgins were all the same. They were ten young women who were given the privilege and honor of welcoming the Bridegroom by carrying light-producing oil lamps in procession before him as he entered the wedding hall. To fail in this task would bring shame and dishonor upon themselves, their family, and the Bridegroom as well, similar to the shame and dishonor of running out of wine at first century Jewish wedding. Thus, the virgins took their task very seriously and planned to stay up to await the Bridegroom’s arrival. Five of the virgins even took the precaution of bringing extra oil along with them, just in case. All ten virgins fell asleep while awaiting the Bridegroom’s arrival. Again, they were all the same; none of them were perfect; all of them failed to stay awake. And yet, there was something that was different with some of them. Five of the virgins brought extra oil. The extra oil didn’t make them more righteous, or more watchful; they still fell asleep. Nevertheless, it was the oil that made the difference. In the end, when the Bridegroom finally arrived, the five wise virgins still had oil for their lamps, while the five foolish virgins had run out and could not light their lamps.
I think there’s a temptation here to credit the wise virgins with some superior quality and to assume that the foolish virgins were deficient in some way. But that is not the case at all; they were the same. If we are going to assign blame and deficiency, then all ten virgins deserve that judgment, for they all fell asleep. No, there was no difference between the ten except for the oil; five of the virgins still had oil. You see, this parable isn’t about the virgins at all; it’s all about the oil, and the oil represents faith. It’s not about how much oily faith you have. Nor is it about the good works you produce. Nor is it about how charitable you are, what people think about you, your past sins, current failings, or anything else. It’s all about the oil; it’s all about faith. And, when it comes to faith, you either have it, or you don’t – period.
That is why Jesus teaches that the faith of a mustard seed could move a mountain. That is why Jesus sometimes chided his disciples saying, “You of little faith.” Their faith may have been weak or small, but they still had it. Faith isn’t a work. Faith isn’t reason or understanding. Faith is not a choice or a decision. Faith is trust, and faith is a work and gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have faith, thanks be to God. If you don’t have faith, there’s nothing you can do to earn it, merit it, deserve, choose it, or get it. Faith must be given to you. Faith must be created in you. And that happens by the work of the Holy Spirit through the word of God, and in no other way. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, then you have Jesus. That is to say, you have everything that Jesus has: blessedness, holiness, righteousness, sonship with the Father, life that cannot and will ever die.
The five foolish virgins had run out of oil. They asked the wise virgins for some of their oil, but that cannot be for, the oil is faith, and you must have faith of your own, no one can believe for another. So, off into the darkness the foolish virgins go, seeking to purchase oil for their lamps. But the effort is futile; faith cannot be purchased or earned, borrowed, or anything else. Faith is a gift – period; you either have it, or you don’t.
Now, I know that this troubles you, because you are wondering, “Do I have enough faith?” “How can I be certain?” Well, if you’re concerned about not having faith, that’s a sure sign that you have it. If you didn’t have faith, you wouldn’t be concerned about losing it. How much faith? That’s not even a relevant question, for even the smallest amount of faith is saving faith – remember the mustard seed? For one thing, you’re here today: You’ve called upon the LORD to be present, and he is present. You’ve confessed your sins and have received his absolution. He has fed you with his word, strengthening your faith and equipping you for service. Even now he is speaking to you through his servant, who is, at the same time, a proclaimer and a hearer. Soon he will commune with you, flesh with your flesh, blood with your blood, in a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb in his kingdom. This absolution, this word, this meal is sustenance as you make your pilgrim way through the valley of the shadow of death that is this life and world into the promised land of the Father’s house forevermore.
How do you keep oil in your lamp? How is it possible that you will be found in faith when the Bridegroom Jesus Christ comes, be you wake or sleeping? Tend to your faith. Care for it. Protect it. It is a precious gift – the most precious gift. Now, I know that I’m preaching to the choir, but that’s alright. Don’t keep it to yourself! Tell someone you know who isn’t here that should be. And outside of Sunday morning, stay in the word: pray before meals, giving thanks; prayer is good for you, for when you pray, you pray to God, you honor and keep the First Commandment; read the Scriptures whether from the Bible directly, from Portals of Prayer, or any number of resources; attend Bible study when you can; whatever works for you. The point is, to tend your lamps, maintain your oil, care for, protect, and nurture the precious treasure and gift that is your faith.
And so, the end of the Church’s year of grace is much like its beginning in Advent: The Bridegroom is coming. Be ready. Be prepared. For, he is coming at a day and hour you cannot know. But don’t be afraid; rather, be in the Lord’s word and his gifts. If you are receiving from him, then you have nothing to be worried about and nothing to fear. The highest worship of the LORD is to receive his gifts. The gift you have is the most precious gift possible, eternal life and salvation. Treat your faith that way. Care for it, protect it, and preserve it at all costs. It is the wise thing to do.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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