How could they not have anticipated this moment when their preparation or lack of it would be visible to all? Unbelieving men and women do not think carefully about the danger of not being ready for the Lord when he comes. Perhaps you have forgotten about God all your life, and then you have this terrible pang of fear. But now it is too late; you can’t turn; you are programmed against God. With a sinking feeling they saw that their lamps were going out. Although this seems ridiculous, far-fetched, the failure of human souls to seek the Lord until it is too late is even more ridiculous.
These foolish virgins are like those who think they can delay repentance until the last hour of life (Spurgeon). They do not think it is going to be hard to obtain all that they need at the last moment, after they have enjoyed the sinful pleasures of this life to the full and are at the door of eternity. It does not trouble them that they go through life completely unprepared for the only certain event in life. They can wait to the end to find out what they need to know to come to God, and if he is a God of love, as they have heard, he will be pleased to receive them. But there are very few who find the Lord in such circumstances, and hardly any of those who put off their seeking until it suits them. Will God not allow us to make a mockery of him all our lives, and then presume on his grace.
Preachers have elaborated the parable at this point and characterised the five foolish virgins. (This, of course, applies to men and women alike.) Perhaps there was Miss Thoughtless. She didn’t think. Her mind was not on her duties, but on what she looked like. Perhaps she took nothing seriously. Everything will somehow work out. You have a low view of sin, and don’t see what problem you have got.
Another was Miss Self-Confident. No problem was too great for her to overcome. She was charming; she could get oil at the last minute. She can usually twist people around her finger, and maybe the groom would admire her. Is this us? We think God is a pushover. No, you cannot negotiate with him. Don’t play games with your soul. You can’t get around his holiness.
Then there was Miss Plain Ignorant. She didn’t know she must have oil and that if she came too late the door would be shut. Usually, the reason we don’t know is that we don’t want to know – God’s Spirit strives with every man. Maybe you don’t realise that you can’t get into heaven without spiritual life. He came to take our sin and put it on himself and he took the load of our guilt and poured out our punishment on Christ. We must acquaint ourselves with the message of the Bible; we must value this more highly than all the world.
Miss Rebellious said, ‘I go on my own terms. I won’t do what custom says. If I am shut out, too bad.’ Some are natural rebels. ‘I won’t submit to anything.’ That is the fastest way to throw away our souls. Remember you only have so long in this life.
Or maybe there was just Miss Mean. She wanted to be there but not when it meant paying out. She loved herself more than the bride. ‘No, I am not going to turn my back on all I was going to get out of life and part with my sins. I will take a risk and take a chance that the preacher is wrong. I am not prepared to hand over my life.’ For you it is a calculated risk. If it means I have to ask and plead for mercy, the price is too high to pay. Don’t take a chance on the last day, when in any case even life now would be so much better. Come to Christ, he is potentially your Saviour.