Our last moments at the Kibutz before we headed off to Galilee for the remainder of the trip was spent having a tour of the garden. Our guide Eli showed us an oil press. The oil press is used to press olive which then becomes olive oil. Those of us in the western world, have machinery that does the job for us, without lifting a finger. The way Eli showed us how oil used to be pressed, is what we would call manual labour. It’s all done with the strength of your arm. Imagine doing this daily and having to produce large quantity of oil.
The story of the 10 virgins came up again and the reason why five were wise and five were foolish became so clear to me. All the virgins looked the same, dressed in garments looking beautiful. But inside they were different. Five were prudent, vigilant and had their eyes fixed on the arrival of their groom. That is why every day they made sure they filled their lamps with oil so that there would be more than enough oil to carry them until the bridegroom arrived. Filling their lamps daily was not easy. It required sacrifice, a lot of strength and humbleness; humbleness to go down and get yourself dirty if needs be.
The other five virgins were relaxed. Probably their eyes were fixed on the present (here and now) thinking that they would have time to fill their lamps nearer the time. They were lazy, probably proud as well because they didn’t want to be seen constantly pressing oil and I believe they followed the crowd, with the attitude “others are not doing what the wise virgins are doing so I will not do as well”. . Little did they know, such an attitude would cause them to be rejected by the bridegroom and many people today will encounter the same treatment when they meet Jesus face to face. He will turn them away, not because He never loved them but because they did not do what was required of them to do, in order for them to inherit the kingdom of Heaven. It is not free but comes at a price. The price of letting go of grudges, pride, overcoming laziness and complacency, basically anything in our life that is not good and is contrary to the ways of God.
When we decide to sacrifice like the wise virgins did and fill our lamps (life) with the oil (presence of God) and daily await the return of our Lord, we too will be accepted into Heaven.
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