by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
THE BRIDEGROOM
I N THE parable of the Ten Virgins, we find a very tragic story. Be cause they did not see the Lord return, they slackened their place and dozed off into lethargic slumber. Matthew 25:5 suggests that they were continu ally sleeping and nothing seemed to arouse them. Verse 6 gives us further light on the episode, “And at mid night there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” This came at a time when one would least expect it. Most wed dings were held during the daytime. I can see these virgins rubbing their eyes, trying to come to life again. Verse 7 tells us, “Then all those vir gins arose, and trimmed their lamps.” This word in Greek translated “trim” in English is the very word from which we get “cosmetics.” Paul uses this same word in Titus 2:10 when we are told to “adorn” the doctrine of Christ. We are to use, as it were, spiritual cosmetics. The virgins knew the importance of trimming their lamps. The brighter the flame the more darkness that could be dispelled. This was certainly a sense of readi ness. But there were both thought ful virgins as well as thoughtless ones. Those who had not brought oil along discovered their lights flickering. Verse 8 declares, “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.” Without a light would indicate that they had no right to be in a position to meet the bridegroom. May I ask you a similar question? You may be religious but do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour. You may think you are pre pared for the wedding but when the Lord actually comes, you And you have no light whatsoever. You cannot enter into His presence without the proper wedding garment, which are the pure and spotless robes of Christ’s right eousness. You may be trusting the
teachings of your preacher, or the rit uals and standings of the Church to which you belong. This is tragic to say nothing of being hazardous. When I visited the World’s Fair in New York, I went to the Hall of Religion where all the Protestant churches are represented. It was in teresting to push buttons in front of various exhibits and to hear different automated voices describe what one was viewing. Of these buttons an in dividual could push one which had to do with the history of the church, an other with its wealth, and still an other with its workings. I remember one, too, which was a button describ ing what the church believes. But the day I was there, over the section which was labeled “What our church teaches,” there was a sign clearly marked, “Out of Order.” This had great spiritual truth for me. How many churches there are whose teach ings are entirely “out of order.” They certainly are not teaching “Thus saith the Lord.” Are you prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you truly know Him as your own Saviour
Mr. Jacob Eymann, member of the Biola Board of Directors, with Dr. Ray A. Myers, chairman of the Board.
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