  When my daughter
approached me about
my need to incorporate
"essential oils” into my
life, I was way ahead of
her. Growing up on a
small family farm, I was
familiar with the vital
place that various oils
occupied in our lives.
Without certain oils, life
could not go on normally.
Some were designed for
internal use, and others
were designed for various
external uses. Some were
medicinal, some had a
nutritional quality, and
some simply made things
move smoother.
Castor oil led the
medicinal list. Just the
threat of having to swallow
it would make you
feel better. Camphor oil
was for fever blisters and
rubbing on mysterious
rashes that we didn’t
know what to do with,
and cod liver oil helped
keep the internal plumbing
working.
Oil derived from
melting down good ole’
lard was indispensable in
the nutritional department.
We fried all kinds of
stuff in it and used it in its
solid form to make biscuits
and other dietary
necessities. Outside the
house, 30 weight motor
oil was a mainstay. It kept
the tractor running and
was good for putting on
almost anything that
squeaked. Grandpa even
poured some on our dog,
Rex, when he got lice.
Later in life, other essential
oils were added to the
list — like WD-40 and
cooking oil in spray cans.
Forgive me for
having a little fun with a
familiar term. My friends who use "essential oil”
products subtly suggest
that if I would join them,
I’d be a kinder, gentler,
calmer, healthier, happier,
and more tolerable person.
They might be right,
but I really just mentioned
the term as a segue to consider
another kind of
"oil,” one that Jesus
talked about, and one that
is more deserving of the
designation "essential”
than any product for sale
anywhere.
Matthew relates a
story (Matthew 25:1-13)
involving oil that takes
place during a wedding,
but it’s not about a particular
kind of oil. It’s not a
classic wedding story,
either, so don’t look for an
adaptation of it on the
Hallmark Channel. Jesus
was teaching about the
Kingdom of God, and the
story highlights our personal
responsibility to be
prepared.
The parable is
about ten bridesmaids
serving in an evening
wedding. They would
begin by gathering at the
bride’s house where they
would wait for the groom
to arrive. Then the groom
would led the bridal procession
back to his house
for the concluding ceremony
and the ensuing
celebration. The bridesmaids
were responsible
for the oil lamps that
would illuminate the procession.
In Jesus’ story,
five of the ten bridesmaids
took extra oil in
case the groom was late
showing up. The other
five tried to get by on the
oil they had in their
lamps. For some reason,
the groom in Jesus’ story
was really late. We’re
only told that ...while the
bridegroom was delayed,
they [the bridesmaids] all
slumbered and slept. Then
...at midnight a cry was
heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom
is coming; go out to
meet him!’ (Matthew 25:5-
6 NKJV). All the bridesmaids
got up and
trimmed their lamps, but
those who didn’t take
extra oil, ran out.
While the "foolish”
bridesmaids went in
search of more oil, the
bridegroom came. When
they got back, the procession
was gone. It was all
over. When they begged
to be admitted to the postwedding
celebration, it
was too late. Having
enough oil was "essential,”
and they had missed
the only chance they
would ever have.
There is a great
deal of symbolism and
prophetic significance in
this story that we cannot
address in this limited
space, but there are several
obvious lessons.
When Jesus ascended
back to heaven,
the angels made it clear
that He was going to return
(Acts 1:9-11). If that
doesn’t happen in our lifetime,
at some point, we’re
going to arrive at our exit
ramp out of here. Either
way, an inevitable is event
is coming beyond which
everything is going to
change forever. We just
don’t know when it’s
going to happen.
God has graciously
extended an invitation
to come to His
Son’s "wedding” that includes
an entrance into
His Kingdom, but admission
is conditional, and
meeting those conditions
is "essential.” Interestingly,
"oil” plays a part.
Oil is a type of the Holy
Spirit and our means of
personal contact with
God, and Paul makes its
significance clear.
But you are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed
the Spirit of God dwells in
you. Now if anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ, he
is not His. Romans 8:9
(NKJV)
The foolish
bridesmaids were left out
forever because they didn’t
have enough "essential
oil.” Those who put off
preparing for the inevitable
will find themselves
in the same tragic
situation. A personal relationship
with Jesus Christ
is the only "essential oil”
that will grant entrance
into a wedding celebration
that will last forever.
Without it, nothing in the
health store will suffice . .
. Even WD-40 won’t help.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
In addition to being
an active writer, speaker,
teacher, and blogger, Ron
Gallagher serves in a variety
of roles as a ministry consultant
for local churches.
His Biblical insights are
coupled with down-to-earth
humor, satire, and relevant
stories aimed at promoting "Right Side Up Thinking ~
in an Upside Down World.” Ron strives to apply God’s
truth in a way that stimulates
the mind, encourages
the heart, and challenges the
cultural norm. Check out his
blog, "Gallagher’s Pen” at
www.gallagherspen.com
NEW BOOK . . .Ron’s new book, Right
Side Up Thinking in an
Upside Down World ~ Looking at the
World through the Lens
of Biblical Truth, is now
available on Amazon and
through Lighthouse Bible
Studies. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2IDsNpB |
