"I do not know you" - perhaps the most terrifying words anyone could hear from the lips of Jesus Christ. In this deep and powerful exploration of the Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25:1-10, we confront the sobering reality that many who identify as Christians may find themselves locked outside when the Bridegroom returns.
We carefully examine the similarities between the wise and foolish virgins - both groups had lamps, both waited for the bridegroom, both even fell asleep during the wait. Yet a crucial difference existed: the wise had oil in their lamps while the foolish did not. This oil, representing the indwelling Holy Spirit, made all the difference when the midnight cry came.
The most chilling moment comes when the door is shut. Those five words carry tremendous weight. The foolish virgins, returning with newly purchased oil, find themselves permanently excluded. Their desperate cry of "Lord, lord, open to us!" receives the devastating response: "I do not know you." Not merely a timing issue, but a fundamental issue of relationship.
What makes this parable particularly haunting is that these foolish virgins genuinely believed they belonged inside. They maintained all the external appearances of faith. Yet without the internal reality of the Spirit, their profession was empty. This serves as a stark warning for all who claim Christ's name today - religious activity without genuine relationship leads to ultimate rejection.
Our panel discussion reveals profound insights: salvation cannot be borrowed or transferred from others; we must each possess our own faith; and the time for preparation is now, not later. When Christ returns or when death comes, the opportunity for ensuring we truly know Him will be gone forever.
Don't risk hearing those devastating words. Examine your faith today. Is it built on genuine relationship with Christ or merely religious appearance? The door remains open now, but one day it will be shut forever.
BE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!
