Spring 2000
The Deciding Vote
Wade E Taylor

"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" Matt 25:1-2.

There are two equal groups of five in each. The wise entered into the Marriage supper of the Lamb, but the foolish were turned away.

There are different interpretations concerning the foolish virgins, as to their spiritual state. Some say that they were unsaved. But all had lamps (salvation), and all went forth to meet the Bridegroom (equal opportunity).

The Word tells us,

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me
in My Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with My Father in His Throne.” Rev 3:21.

In order to receive a reward for being an overcomer, there must be the possibility of not being an overcomer. The five wise and the five foolish virgins depict this opportunity, showing us that all have an equal opportunity to attain.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as
many as be perfect, be thus minded.” Phil 3:14-15a.

Paul recognized that we have a part in receiving the prize. The five wise entered with the Lord to the marriage, and therefore were given the right to sit with Him in His Throne, but the foolish did not. Each one of us are in one group or the other.

Thus, the parable of the ten virgins shows us the outworking of the opportunity that we have to become overcomers. The wise maintained oil for their lamps, but the lamps of the foolish were going out for lack of oil. Thus, there was a distinct difference between them. It takes only one deciding vote to determine which group we are in. Either we are, or we are not, overcomers.

“Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto
you pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause
the lamps to burn continually.” Lev 24:2.

Oil results from our maintaining an active relationship with the Lord.

The foolish were told to go and buy for themselves. Later, they came back, which means they had received that which they had gone after. A great visitation is before us in which multitudes will be blessed. But the reward will be greatly diminished because the opportunity to become an overcomer will have passed.

“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.” Matt 25:10.

Because it will be much easier to receive from the Lord during the time of visitation, there will be no opportunity to be among the five wise who had already entered into the Throne to sit with Him.

“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.” Matt 25:11-12.

Some interpret this verse as meaning that these were not saved. Rather, the Lord is telling them that they had missed their opportunity to become an overcomer. He did not “know” them as His Bride.

Today, in the pressures of our present circumstances, we have the opportunity to buy oil, causing our lamps to burn brightly so we may be counted among the wise.

May we cast our vote to be among these.