Jesus once told the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. There were ten virgins, lamps in hand, waiting for the bridegroom to come. Five virgins have their lamps filled with oil to spare. The other five are not so wise; their lamps are somewhat empty. The bridegroom is late; the virgins fall asleep. When the bridegroom finally appears, the five prepared virgins have their lamps lit and are welcomed into the feast. The other five have no oil left in their lamps; they are unprepared and denied entrance into the feast. The master judged the virgins based on what he found them doing “at the finish line.” They were unprepared. Their actions were not displayed according to their faith.

Before the bridegroom came, the virgins were the same. But when the finish line was in sight, only half of them were prepared, even though all of them were believers. The point is this: half of them did not act on what they knew. Their actions didn’t reflect their knowledge.

So, where do you fit in this story? Jesus promises that someday he will return, and all of us who believe anticipate that day. But will you be prepared? Will your lamps be lit, ready for eternal life in the presence of Jesus, or will you be denied entrance to the feast because you did not act according to your faith? My advice: Keep your lamps filled; the finish line awaits!