Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. -Matthew 25:1
Good morning and TGIF! The scripture provided introduces the famous parable of the ten virgins. Within it, we find a powerful analogy comparing a mere facade or toothless tiger to a genuine one.
Both may appear ferocious and immensely dangerous, but one is nothing more than an illusion, a representation of what it claims to be, akin to a 'paper tiger,' which suggests it was never a tiger to begin with.
Examining a tiger's stripe pattern reveals imperfections – uneven stripes, some shorter than others, and so on. In contrast, a 'paper tiger' is meticulously painted on flawless paper with perfect brush strokes.
In the kingdom, there are individuals who resemble 'paper tigers.' They seem flawless, but truthfully, like the paper tiger, they lack substance, much like the lamps of the five virgins – empty.
Just as a zoologist can swiftly differentiate between the two from a distance, the Lord can discern between emptiness and fullness, genuine faith and a form of godliness. You cannot pass off a 'paper tiger' as a real one, just as you cannot equate an empty relationship with Christ to a truly meaningful one."
Go fellowship this weekend, we all need it.
God bless you and command your day!!!
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