Based on the sermon:

The Wise and the Foolish: Are You Ready?

There’s something deeply unsettling about the story of Jack Whitaker Jr., the West Virginia contractor who won a record $315 million Powerball jackpot in 2002. Within five years, this man who felt “financially indestructible” had lost everything—his marriage, his family, and his fortune. When he died in 2020, he had less than $100,000 to his name. As the saying goes, “A fool and his money are soon parted.”

But there’s an even more sobering story that Jesus tells in Matthew 25—one about ten young women, five wise and five foolish, whose poor preparation cost them far more than money. It cost them everything.

The Ultimate Wedding Invitation

In first-century Jewish culture, weddings weren’t quick affairs. After the betrothal, a preparation period of up to a year would follow. The bride would wait, not knowing exactly when her bridegroom would come, only that he would come. When the bridegroom’s father finally said, “Son, everything is ready—go get your bride,” the bridegroom would arrive with great fanfare, often at night, to claim his beloved.

The ten virgins in Jesus’ parable were bridesmaids with one simple job: be ready with their lamps to light the way in the wedding procession. That’s it—one job. Be ready.

But when the cry came at midnight, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” only five were prepared.

Three Fatal Mistakes

What made the five foolish virgins foolish? Jesus reveals three critical errors that still trap people today.

First, they didn’t make the necessary preparations. They brought their lamps but no extra oil. They assumed the bridegroom would come early, that their limited supply would be enough. Like a wedding photographer showing up without film, they failed at the one thing that mattered most.

How often do we live with this same shortsightedness? We assume we have plenty of time, that tomorrow will be just like today, and that we can always prepare later. But Jesus warned repeatedly: “You do not know the day nor the hour.”

Second, they thought they could borrow what they needed. When their lamps began to flicker, the foolish virgins asked the wise ones to share their oil. But the wise women refused—not out of selfishness, but because some things simply cannot be borrowed.

Salvation is like a golf swing—uniquely yours. You can borrow Scottie Scheffler’s clubs, but you can’t borrow his swing. You can sit next to the most devout believer in church, but you can’t borrow their relationship with God. As the Bible says, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9). God has children, but He has no grandchildren.

Third, they didn’t grasp the seriousness of the situation. While the foolish virgins scrambled to find oil dealers at midnight, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went into the wedding feast, and the door was shut. When the unprepared finally returned, they found themselves locked out, hearing the devastating words: “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”

The Oil That Cannot Be Shared

In Scripture, oil often symbolizes the Holy Spirit. When Samuel anointed David with oil, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily from that day forward.” The oil in the lamps represents the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit—the very essence of what it means to be saved.

New Testament salvation isn’t just having your sins forgiven (though that’s the prerequisite) or getting a ticket to heaven (though that’s the result). Biblical salvation is God taking up residence in your life through His Holy Spirit. Your body becomes “a temple of the Holy Spirit,” and God gives His Spirit as a down payment, guaranteeing His faithfulness to you.

This is why the oil couldn’t be shared. The Holy Spirit’s presence is deeply personal, the result of an individual decision to repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

When the Door Shuts

The most chilling part of Jesus’ parable is its finality. Once the door was shut, it stayed shut. There was no second chance, no appeal process, no “time out” to get prepared. The invitation was over.

This pattern has been played out throughout history. When Noah entered the ark with his family, God Himself shut the door. The day of grace ended. The same will be true when Christ returns.

Revelation 22:17 extends the invitation even now: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” But this invitation won’t last forever.

Counting the Cost

There’s a story about a man traveling from the old country to America who sold everything he owned and bought a precious diamond to represent his wealth. On the ship, he would show off his gem, even dangling it dangerously over the rail. Despite warnings from fellow passengers, he continued his reckless behavior until one day he threw it up, tried to catch it, and watched his entire fortune disappear into the Atlantic.

Perhaps that story isn’t true. But people are reading this who are being far more foolish than that fictional traveler. He only lost money. You’re playing fast and loose with your soul.

Jesus asked the ultimate question: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

 Are You Ready?

Being religious isn’t the same as knowing Christ. You can be baptized, teach Sunday school, or even be a pastor, but none of those things make you right with God. What makes you right with God is recognizing you’re a sinner, turning from sin, and putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone.

The bridegroom is coming. The question isn’t whether He’ll arrive, but whether you’ll be ready when He does. Don’t wait until midnight when the cry goes out. Don’t assume you can borrow what you need from someone else. Don’t underestimate the seriousness of this moment.

As the hymn asks: “Have you counted the cost? While the door of His mercy is open to you, won’t you come and be healed? Won’t you whisper, ‘I yield—I have counted the cost’?”

The oil you need is available today. The door is still open. But Jesus warns us clearly: “Be on the alert, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

Are you ready?