"Ready & Awake" - 24 x 18 inches acrylic on canvas
Painted for my Collectors Club special edition fine art print | August 2020
“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. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“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.” Matthew 25: 1-13
“The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” Jeremiah 1: 11-12
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For the past couple of years, the parable of the ten virgins has been on my heart with a sense of urgency. I was in prayer for this month’s painting and the picture of the oil jar and lamp kept coming to mind. I have painted a few different version of this in the past, but I felt the urge to paint it again for the Collectors Club. This time, I saw an almond branch as well. The oil jar and lamp signify to be ready and shine, while the almond branch is a symbol of awakening.
How do we make sure we carry extra oil so we are ready with a lite lamp… I heard the Lord say to me, “it’s walking with me daily. It’s knowing me and my ways. It’s the daily communing through the Holy Spirit, being truly born again and abiding on the vine.” We see in the verses above, when the bridegroom came, the foolish virgins asked if they could enter, he says “I don’t know you.” This is the divide of those who truly know the Lord and those who are false believers and try to get oil from others without paying the price for it ahead. Make sure you spend time getting to know Jesus and walk with him daily... be ready and awake.
Original artwork, acrylic on stretched canvas. Wrapped edges are painted white. Adding a beautiful custom frame will give your new painting added elegance, but is not necessary if you prefer the raw edge look.
