30 August 2013 - light up the darkness

30 August 2013 - light up the darkness

At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 

We must be ready.  The LORD may come.  He comes at the end, for judgment, it is true, but he also comes countless times to bless us.

It is reassuring to know that he recognizes our weakness.  All of the virgins fall asleep by they are not thereby excluded.  This is just as Peter, James, and John fall asleep in the garden of Gethsemane and are not excluded.

Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

But when we hear the cry go up we need to be able to shine for him.  He comes at midnight.  He comes into the darkness.  He uses us to light his path!  We light his path at the end by preparing the world to meet him.  We also light up the specific situations where he blesses us.  We need to have the oil for our lamps ready for any of these situations..  We can't go out and find it at the moment of his visitation.  There is no time to do the work ourselves.  Fortunately, the oil is the Holy Spirit, and he generously pours him out on those who believe (cf. Tit. 3:5-6).

The secret then is not to squander this oil on dissipation.

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

This oil is so precious.  It makes the darkness of our own lives life.  But if we spend longer than need be in the dark we may not have enough.  Let us dwell in the light, therefore, as much as we may.  Let us be asleep to the darkness except in the specific places he calls us to shine.  And ultimately, we are to shine not for our own glory but for the glory of the bridegroom.

Light in the midst of darkness is a gift he gives.  We do not have it within us save for what we receive. But he delights to pour it out.  So let us shine brightly for him.

Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.