28 August 2015 - late have i loved thee

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.

We are called to holiness without which no one will see God (cf. Heb. 12:14). Jesus tells us that it is the pure of heart who are blessed to see God (cf. Mat. 5:8). Today we see that a pure heart isn't a heart that is shut down, isolated, or asleep. A pure heart must be awake.

‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

The foolish virgins never see the bridegroom. They do not have oil for their lamps and no one can provide it for them. They miss the bridegroom when he comes and find themselves locked outside the wedding feast. Both the foolish and the wise virgins both end up sleeping. This itself isn't a deal-breaker. They are human, after all. But the foolish do not prepare. They are not ready to welcome the bridegroom. They lack the oil of the Spirit. When they hear the cry, "Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" they realize that a passive purity which doesn't long for the bridegroom and take preparations to welcome him is insufficient. True purity is active. It reaches out in longing for the bridegroom even before the watchers announce his coming.

The oil of this Holy Spirit is the only way these wise virgins are able to welcome to bridegroom. It is also the only way to be fully present in our other relationships. It is the alternative to taking advtange of and exploitation or sisters and brothers. It allows us to act in holiness and honor toward them rather than lustful passion. Without it we are either in the dark, stumbling, or too busy trying to provide our own oil to be there for anyone else.

The LORD himself is willing to provide this oil. He wants to anoint us with the oil of gladness (cf. Psa. 45:7). "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power" (cf. Act. 10:38) He wants to anoint us with the same Spirit. He tells us "stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (cf. Luk. 24:49). This is the power to stay awake and meet the bridegroom when he comes. Paul has this power. Because of it he presses on toward the bridegroom "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (cf. Phi. 3:13).

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.

The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (cf. Mat. 26:41) so let us pray for more Spirit and less flesh. After all, "It is the spirit gives life; the flesh is no help at all" (cf. Joh. 6:63). Let us believe in the one who pours out this Spirit, rivers of living water, "the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive" (cf. Joh. 7:38-39). The bridegroom comes to meet us and supplies the oil of gladness so that we can go to meet him. So, "Rejoice in the Lord, you just!"