I Know Thee Not

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” — Matthew 25:13

In the parable of the Ten Virgins, the Lord compares His Second Coming to a wedding feast. Ten virgins were invited to wait for the arrival of the newly married couple and guests. Knowing that the wait might stretch into the night, each virgin brought a lamp but only five brought extra oil.

When the wait stretched longer than anticipated, five virgins ran out of oil. While they were gone in search of more, the Savior came with his guests and went into the feast. When the five returned and found the door shut they called to the Lord to open it. Swift came His reply,“I know thee not.”

“Can you imagine the moment when they realized that they would not be admitted?” artist Liz Lemon Swindle asks. “Only half were ready for His coming. Which half are we in? Will we be welcomed or will we remain outside with His words ringing in our ears, 'I know thee not.’”