In Matthew 25, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying , ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”(Matt.25:2-13 NASB)
When I was at camp as a young girl, we needed flashlights to get around at night. We would go to the main lodge for evening activities and occasionally someone would forget to bring their flashlight. It wasn’t a big problem though. At the end of the activities, they would just find someone to walk with and share their light.
When the shout arises and the bridegroom comes, there will be no sharing of lamps. Each will be expected to shine with their own light exactly how they were intended to shine and each will have to have enough oil to maintain their light.
Jesus says to the foolish virgins, “I do not know you”, indicating a lack of intimacy. Make sure you store up for yourself the oil of intimacy so you can sustain your light through the waiting period of His arrival. He is coming soon; make sure you’re ready.