James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.
The servant of The Lord makes important points in her commentary on the parable. We’ll now address some of them so that we may better understand the topic for today: “The Holy Spirit in Your heart.” [1] The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. [Christ Object Lessons, pp 411]… These are not your everyday sinner, for they actually enjoy going to church and are busy with the work of the church including missionary endeavors that are enjoined in the Bible.
But going to church and doing church work does not make you a Christian. While church activities are encouraged, in one and all, doing so does not necessarily guarantee you an abundant entrance into God’s kingdom. The work of salvation must be occurring on a continuum in order for a believer to qualify as a growing Christian. The lukewarm state referred to in Laodicea, hints of spiritual stagnation, or retrogression.
And when one isn’t aware of their true condition, they tend to feel good about their Christianity, hence the reason why Christ’s assessments include blindness. There has to be daily surrender to God, there has to be quality time spent with Him alone, there has to be choices made that are commensurate with the work God is doing in our hearts, and there must be self-denial in order to facilitate that work. This leads us to the second point.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!