Interview with a Foolish Virgin

Here's an interesting take on the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

Photo at www.SheepTrax.com

They are the stuff of Jesus most enigmatic, haunting parable – the five foolish virgins. SheepTrax Undercover managed to catch up to one of the rejected ones, a member of the bridal Company who awaited His return only to be shut out, un-betrothed.

There, draped in white, beautiful, lampless, huffing on a cigarette (see photo) and strung out like a brazen trollip, stood one of the Foolish Five, waiting for the Wedding Feast that for her, would nev er be.

SheepTrax: Can we get a word, Miss…?

Foolish Virgin: Since he dumped me at the altar, Miss would be correct, not Misses.

SheepTrax: Uh, yeah. Tough break. Wait - Altars are places to worship and meet God and yet He dumped you there. Hummm...

Foolish Virgin: I don’t get it, really. I was dressed for the Bridegroom, had my lamp in hand but ran out of oil. What’s the big deal?

SheepTrax: Are you serious? The story of the 10 Virgins, the five wise and 5 foolish, is an end time parable, a dire warning to those who call themselves the Church of J esus Christ. It is a very big deal – and a theological quagmire of the first order.

Foolish Virgin: (Taking a long drag from her Virginia Slim). Don’t mind the cigarette. I use it to keep my lamp lit. (another long puff) I was supposed to be getting married to the Prince of Peace. Does the phrase “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” ring any bells? I’m part of the **%$@ Bride of Christ!

SheepTrax: Ouch. Look, the problem for you (and many others) was that you ran out of oil and went off sauntering into the darkness looking for more. The lamp you and the other nine carried are a picture of the human spirit and the oil speaks of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. A parable is a spiritual story…

F oolish Virgin: But our lamps began to sputter and go out…

SheepTrax: Times of darkness happen to everybody, foolish and wise alike. The issue becomes then: what next? Will I truly trust God when all seems dark? Will he be your supply, your source? In him, do you really “live, and move, and have your being?” Truth is, you weren’t really ready to meet God.

Foolish Virgin: You’re telling me this was all a test?

SheepTrax: Yep. Com’on, tell the truth. Are you really a Virgin?

Foolish Virgin: (pause) Tech-nic-ally… and you have no right to judge me!

SheepTrax: I’m sure having the eternal door to the Wedding Feast slammed in your face is Judgment enough.

Foolish Virgin: (deftly changing the subject) Have you seen the News? There’s another guy who claims to be the Bridegroom. He does signs and wonders, too. Wonder if he needs a Bride? I mean, I do look the part.

SheepTrax: That was another problem: you only looked the part. Jesus is coming for a Virgin who is, to quote the Bible, “without spot or wrinkle.”

Foolish Virgin: (Sighs) They always want the young, pretty ones.

SheepTrax: No! You’re missing the message here. The real issues of the end- times are about purity of spirit and single-hearted devotion to God. Who do you really worship? The other guy you mentioned is seeking followers, too. He is actually against Christ, hence the name anti-Christ. He is just a power mad pretender…

Foolish Virgin: He’s got a girlfriend?

SheepTrax: (Sighs) Many.

Foolish Virgin: Does he mind tattoos?

SheepTrax: Tattoo? It’s more of a mark, but yes, he’s got one and he’ll give it to you – but you’ll have to swear allegiance to him forever.

Foolish Virgin: Does he smoke?

SheepTrax: Not yet, anyway. - Hey, you aren’t seriously going after that guy?

And she was gone into the abyss. Was she ever really a Bride? Decide for yourself by reading Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 25, which also deals with wise and foolish servants, sheep and goats. These stories finally end with this stark promise: "Then they (foolish virgins, wicked servants, and goats) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

In the light of Eternity, will you be found to be Foolish or Wise?


Bryan Hupperts
Copyright 2006

Heart Attack!

Remember, not too long ago, I posted that I asked God to create in me a pure heart. To be a wife of Godly character has been my desire for sometime and I thought progress was being made.

When you confess a sin to God and He cleanses you, the burdens you've carried around for years are lifted. The big slivers are removed from your heart and you start the path of righteousness in the Light of His Love. The heart begins to look beautiful again.

Then, all of a sudden, the Holy Spirit reveals to you a shard of ice that has been left inside your heart. A great operation is needed to remove the remains so
that the heart is fully cleansed of all iniquity.

You think, but I repented and gave that fully to the Lord. Yes, you did and you're forgiven. God has no remembrance of your sin.

That's the sin that you confessed. The sin may have another aspect that you didn't realize was still within your heart.

Say, you'd like your spouse to be closer to the Lord. So, you plan and maneuver him into Christian situations and activities. What's so bad about that? It's very admirable but it's manipulating.

Manipulation of someone else is not a good idea in God's eyes. In 1 Peter 3, God says that His power will be shown through the silence of a wife. He means in actions and words.

When God shows you things like these, called 'besetting' sins, they're even more painful to have removed because it's a deep probing type of operation.

This is what it means to get close to the Lord. The closer you are, the more you are aware of your own unrighteousness. We have so far to go but He is able to bring us to completion and perfection.

These probings are in tender areas of the heart so it's wise to let the Holy Spirit have His way and be in still supplication and surrender. You'll end up being a changed person and reflect more of Jesus.

I know I'll never be the same.

YOU are on notice...RIGHT NOW...IMMEDIATELY

Sometimes friends have to tell you things you might not like to hear, but need to. If you are one of those people who like to forward every e-mail you get, please repeat the following ...

1) I will NOT get bad luck, lose my friends, or lose my mailing lists if I DON'T forward an e-mail!

2) I will NOT hear any music or see a taco dog, if I do forward an e-mail.

3) Bill Gates is NOT going to send me money. Victoria Secret doesn't know anything about a gift certificate they're supposed to send me.

4) Ford will NOT give me a 50% discount even if I forward my e-mail to more than 50 people!

5) I will NEVER receive gift certificates, coupons, or freebies from Coca Cola, Cracker Barrel, Old Navy, or anyone else if I send an e-mail to 10 people.

6) I will NEVER see a pop-up window if I forward an e-mail! (If you do, you have a virus or trojan.)

7) There is NO SUCH THING as an e-mail tracking program and I am not STUPID enough to think that someone will send me $100 for forwarding an e-mail to 10 or more people!

8) There is NO kid with cancer through the Make-a-Wish program in England collecting anything! He did when he was 7 years old. He is now cancer free and 35 years old and DOESN'T WANT ANY MORE POST CARDS, or GET-WELL CARDS!

9) The government does not have a bill in Congress called 901B (or whatever they named it this week) that, if passed, will enable them to charge us 5 cents for every e-mail we send.

10) There will be NO cool dancing, singing, waving, colorful flowers, characters, or program that I will receive immediately after I forward an e-mail. NONE, ZIP, ZERO, NADA!!

11) The American Red Cross will NOT donate 50 cents to certain individuals dying of some never-heard-of disease for every e-mail address I send this to. The American Red Cross RECEIVES donations.

12) And finally, I WILL NOT let others guilt me into forwarding at email by telling me if I don't I am not their friend or that I'm a bad person.

Now, repeat this to yourself until you have it memorized, and send it along to at least 5 of your friends before the next full moon or you will gain twenty pounds in the next three months! (No, not really! If you believe that last statement, go back and read this message again!)



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A Decade of Decisions

I just got back home after my early morning trip to the Sunday flea market. It's a long-standing routine for my husband and I.

As usual I wandered through the stands, getting more exercise than bargains, searching for a find. The misty cool day