The kingdom of heaven is like 10 virgins taking lamps to meet the bridegroom. 5 were foolish (not taking oil) and 5 wise (taking oil). The bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep. The bridegroom arrived, the wise didn’t have enough oil for all, so the foolish had to go buy more. The bridegroom came, those ready went in, the doors were shut. The foolish arrived and the bridegroom said he didn’t know them. Watch, because we don’t know the day or hour Jesus will come. It’s like a man on a journey who entrusted his property to servants. He gave according to his ability. The one who received 5 talents made 5 more. The one with 2 made 2 more. The one with 1 buried it. When the master returned and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” To the third he said, “You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.” He took the 1 talent away and gave it to the one with 10. Everyone who has more will be given, he will have an abundance. The one who doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away. The worthless servant will be cast into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus comes in glory with angels. He will sit on his glorious throne. Before him all nations will gather, Jesus will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right, and goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” The righteous will say, when did we do that? The King will say, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” He’ll say to the left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. You did not help me.” They will say, when did we not do that? Jesus will answer, “As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” These will go to eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
We can be tempted to ignore this reality of life, but we all will be judged by God. Depending on that judgment each of us will have our eternal locale fixed in heaven or in hell. What is in your future? Turn from your sin, flee God’s wrath that is to come, by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. There is no other hope. And let your love of Christ overflow to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus so identifies with and unifies His people to Himself that whatever is done for them is done for Christ. Love the Lord Jesus Christ, but let your love overflow in sacrificial love for your church.