Do You Have Oil?
by: Janie Denney
September 8, 2026
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.”
I met a girl in 9th grade who was from Cairo, Egypt. She told me she was chased down the street for wearing a cross necklace. Yet, in America, even nonbelievers will wear the cross on their necks. We can’t assume that because someone is wearing a cross, or someone goes to church, that they know Jesus. Jesus is more than a necklace. Jesus is more than a Sunday routine.
There is a difference between carrying your cross and wearing it. Christianity is not a label. It’s not a brand. Jesus is a person.
It is deeply upsetting how many people view the cross as a beautiful necklace or T-shirt. The cross is the wooden throne of Jesus.
Michael Kulianos, the Pastor of Jesus Image, a church I have grown to love, made this statement: “I don’t want Him [Jesus] to be central because that’s not enough. Central is not enough for the one who fills everything with Himself. Asking Him to be central is an insult because He who is all refuses to be part of anything. He doesn’t know how. He who is all cannot be part of our life. He is either our life or He is not” (Michael Kulianos, More About Jesus).
It is Jesus or is it nothing. It glorifies Jesus, or it does not. Jesus does not want to be central. He wants to be everything. He is not interested in being one part of your life alongside your career, your relationships, and your comfort. He is either Lord of all of it or He is not Lord at all.
And this is why I keep coming back to Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV).
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them, while the wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
They were all virgins. They were all waiting for the bridegroom to come. They all had lamps. From the outside, they looked ready. But only half of them had oil.
The lamps represent the outward appearance—the people who go to church, who even work for churches and ministries, who attend events, wear the T-shirts, and have the Instagram bio. But as we know, only half of them had oil. Oil represents the inward reality of your relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit. And if only half had oil, then picture Jesus saying to 50% of your church, “I do not know you.” That is sobering to me.
Because the foolish virgins didn't think they were outsiders, they expected to go to the wedding banquet. When they found the door was shut, they said, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!” But He replied, “Truly I tell you, I don't know you.”
There is a difference between looking like a Christian and actually knowing Christ. There is a difference between building a Christian reputation and having a relationship with Jesus. There is a difference between wearing a cross and carrying a cross.
Christianity is not simply about looking the part. It is about surrender. It is about repentance. It is about obedience. It is about knowing Jesus for yourself.
We must know Christ for ourselves.
So what keeps us from pursuing Christ? What keeps us from chasing after Him? Many of us don't want to give up our lives. We don't want to sacrifice. We don't want to be uncomfortable. We don't want to change. We don't want to leave our life of sin. We want Jesus, but we also want our old lives. We want the benefits of Christianity without the surrender that comes with following Christ.
Jesus tells us exactly what following Him looks like: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24 NKJV).
Following Jesus requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It requires surrender. It requires repentance. It requires obedience. It requires us to lay down the life we want to follow the One who gave His life for us.
One day, every one of us will stand before Jesus. And on that day, my prayer is not that I simply looked like a Christian. My prayer is that I knew Him: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).
My prayer is that we, as the Church, will stop settling for a surface-level Christianity. Let us pursue Jesus with everything we have. Let us repent. Let us surrender. Let us deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I praise Your name. You are the King of kings. You are the Beginning and the End. All things were created by You, through You, and for You. Lord, forgive me for placing idols before You. Forgive me for when the fear of man or my own pride has gotten in the way of fellowship with You. I desire a genuine relationship with You. Show me how to pursue You. Help me. Give me strength and endurance to continue choosing You. Lead me into the way everlasting. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Worship: I Want Jesus
Further Study
Matthew 16:24-27, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 21:28-31
Related Posts
There is a difference between wearing a cross and carrying a cross. Christianity is not simply about looking the part. So what keeps us from pursuing Christ? What keeps us from chasing after Him?