Wise or Foolish, Which?

«Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.»

We are now living in a most perilous time, and not one of us should be tardy in seeking a preparation for the coming of Christ. Let none follow the example of the foolish virgins, and think that it will be safe to wait until the crisis comes before gaining a preparation of character to stand in that time. It will be too late to seek for the righteousness of Christ when the guests are called in and examined. Now is the time to put on the righteousness of Christ,—the wedding garment that will fit you to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. In the parable, the foolish virgins are represented as begging for oil, and failing to receive it at their request. This is symbolic of those who have not prepared themselves by developing a character to stand in a time of crisis. It is as if they should go to their neighbors and say, Give me your character, or I shall be lost. Those that were wise could not impart their oil to the flickering lamps of the foolish virgins. Character is not transferable. It is not to be bought or sold; it is to be acquired. The Lord has given to every individual an opportunity to obtain a righteous character through the hours of probation; but he has not provided a way by which one human agent may impart to another the character which he has developed by going through hard experiences, by learning lessons from the great Teacher, so that he can manifest patience under trial, and exercise faith so that he can remove mountains of impossibility. It is impossible to impart the fragrance of love,—to give to another gentleness, tact, and perseverance. It is impossible for one human heart to pour into another the love of God and humanity.

But the day is coming, and it is close upon us, when every phase of character will be revealed by special temptation. Those who remain true to principle, who exercise faith to the end, will be those who have proved true under test and trial during the previous hours of their probation, and have formed characters after the likeness of Christ. It will be those who have cultivated close acquaintance with Christ, who, through his wisdom and grace, are partakers of the divine nature. But no human being can give to another, heart-devotion and noble qualities of mind, and supply his deficiencies with moral power. We can each do much for each other by giving to men a Christlike example, thus influencing them to go to Christ for the righteousness without which they cannot stand in the judgment. Men should prayerfully consider the important matter of character-building, and frame their characters after the divine model.

Our precious Redeemer is standing before the Father as our intercessor, and is preparing mansions for all those who believe in him as their personal Saviour. Let those who would meet the divine standard, search the Scriptures for themselves, that they may have a knowledge of the life of Christ, and understand his mission and work. Let them behold him as their Advocate, standing within the veil, having in his hand the golden censer, from which the holy incense of the merits of his righteousness ascends to God in behalf of those who pray to him. Could they thus behold him, they would feel an assurance that they have a powerful, influential Advocate in the heavenly courts, and that their suit is gained at the throne of God. What an experience may be attained at the footstool of mercy, which is the only place of sure refuge! You may discern the fact that God is back of his promises, and not dread the issue of your prayers, or doubt that Jesus is standing as your surety and substitute. As you confess your sins, as you repent of your iniquity, Christ takes your guilt upon himself, and imputes to you his own righteousness and power. To those who are contrite in spirit, he gives the golden oil of love, and the rich treasures of his grace. It is then that you may see that the sacrifice of self to God through the merits of Christ, makes you of infinite value; for clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness, you become the sons and daughters of God. Those who approach the Father, recognizing the bow of promise, and ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus, will receive their request. At the very first expression of penitence, Christ presents the humble suppliant’s petition before the throne as his own desire in the sinner’s behalf. He says, «I will pray the Father for you.»

Jesus, our precious Saviour, could not see us exposed to the fatal snares of Satan, and forbear making an infinite sacrifice on our behalf. He interposes himself between Satan and the tempted soul, and says, «‘Get thee behind me, Satan.’ Let me come close to this tempted soul.» He pities and loves every humble, trembling suppliant. He revives the spirit of the humble and the contrite. «For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.» «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.» ( To be concluded .) Mrs. E. G. White.

The disciples of Christ, who were with him from day to day, did not comprehend his mission. They loved him as their great Teacher, but their minds were clouded so that they did not always discern his divine character. They were unacquainted with his unlimited resources and power. Although they had witnessed his miracles, they did not discern his relationship to the Father. Just before his death he said to them, «Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name.» In simple language Jesus explained to them that the secret of their success would be in asking the Father for strength and grace in his name. He would be present before the face of the Father, to make request in their behalf, and said further: «Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. . . . Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.» «Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.» «And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. . . . And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.»

How important it is that we understand our privileges, that we know that the Holy Spirit will work in our behalf, and that we gladly receive the golden oil from heaven, which is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus will communicate his grace to every repenting, believing soul. We need to become better acquainted with the terms upon which salvation will be ours, and better understand the relation which Christ sustains to us and to the Father. He has pledged himself to honor his Son’s name as we present it at the throne of grace. We should consider the great sacrifice that was made in our behalf, to purchase for us the robe of righteousness, woven in the loom of heaven. He has invited us to the wedding feast, and has provided for every one of us the wedding garment. The robe of righteousness has been purchased at infinite cost; and how daring is the insult to Heaven when one presents himself as a candidate for entrance at the wedding feast, when wearing his own citizen’s dress of self-righteousness! How greatly he dishonors God, openly showing contempt for the sacrifice made on Calvary! Of such a one it is written, «And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.» No one will taste of the marriage supper of the Lamb who has not on a wedding garment. But John writes, «Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.» Then before it is eternally too late, let each one go to the heavenly Merchantman for the white raiment, the eyesalve, the gold tried in the fire, and the oil of heavenly grace. Let no one put off the day of preparation, lest the call be made, «Go forth to meet the bridegroom,» and you be found as were the foolish virgins, with no oil in your vessels with your lamps. Mrs. E. G. White. —