The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1–13) is not a story about the world. It is a warning to the Church. All ten were invited. All said yes. All waited. All fell asleep. But when the midnight cry rang out, only five were ready. And to the others, the Bridegroom spoke chilling words:
“Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matt 25:12)
This parable cuts through every excuse we have. Jesus is returning, soon, and the time for spiritual sleep is over. We cannot claim to love people and be willing to leave them behind. If we truly love them, we must care enough to tell them the truth. Salvation cannot be shared second-hand. The oil, the evidence of a heart surrendered to Jesus, must be in each one’s lamp when He comes.
Romans 10:14 echoes the urgency:
“How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
Our silence can cost lives.
Every soul matters. Our children, our friends, our family, they need to hear our testimony. They need to know why we love Jesus. They need to see in us the living proof that the Bible is not a relic, it is the love story of a God who pursues even the most broken heart.
John 3:16 reminds us:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
If God loved the world enough to give His Son, how can we love less? How can we stay silent when eternal destinies are at stake?
The parable warns us against complacency. The five foolish virgins thought they had more time. They were wrong. So will we be, if we live as if tomorrow is guaranteed.
James 4:14 says,
“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
The clock is ticking. The midnight cry is nearer than ever. Our love must be louder than our fear. Our urgency must be greater than our comfort.
Now is the time to tell them. Tell them Jesus loves them. Tell them He is coming soon. Tell them He longs to save, not condemn (John 3:17). Tell them that the door is open, but it will not stay open forever. We must hand them the invitation before it is too late.
Because when the door is shut, there will be no second chance.
Not for them.
Not for us.
Let us live with lamps full of oil and hearts full of courage.
And when we stand before Him, may we be able to say:
“Lord, I loved them enough to tell them.” (VICKY LUDICK)
Meet Matt & Vicky Ludick
A Life of Grace, Calling, and Togetherness. We have been in ministry for what feels like forever—and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Matt grew up in the church, baptized in the Holy Spirit from a young age. His life has been one long pursuit of God’s presence. If I had to write all there is to say about Matt, I’d need a book—not a blog post. He’s an all-rounder, a servant-hearted man with an anointing on his life.
He loves sport (all sport!), he cooks dinner almost every evening, and he is the devoted father of our seven children. But more than anything, Matt loves Jesus. He walks and talks Jesus. His worship, especially with a guitar in hand, is where heaven meets earth.
As for me, I was a late bloomer. I completed my Law degree in 2008 and worked in the secular world for some time. But deep down, I knew I was being prepared for something greater. I spent eight transformative years in a Missional Church, where God stretched me, shaped me, and planted a love for the nations in my heart. During that time, I adopted Cindy, my brave and beautiful “firstborn.”
In March this year, I completed my Bachelor’s in Theology, finally walking through a door God had been preparing me for all along. In 2018, Matt and I planted Grace Family Church, a church full of life, learning, and love. Our people are celebrators of life and passionate students of the Word. What a joy it is to walk alongside them!
We also oversee a small but growing missions department, and my dream, when the time is right, is to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.Together, we run Elevate, a business built on the belief that anything is possible and that people are meant to rise.
We dream big because we serve a big God. And in the midst of all the ministry and mission, God surprised us with twins! Now, with seven children and a future open to His will, we remain anchored in this truth: by His grace, together, we can do anything!