How to Agree
If I want to agree with Jesus about a particular issue, the best place for me to see His heart is in His words in the Gospel, and then the look at the attitudes and actions of the men that knew Him...saw Him face to face, and poured out the rest of their lives at His feet.
As we see trouble unfold on the earth, many have a "wait and see" attitude about recognizing the times we live in as the "last days." The bible has SO much information concerning the events surrounding the return of Jesus, and what His people should do to prepare. The fate of our geographic locations literally hinges on God's people being in agreement with Him as He unfolds His plans to drive evil off the planet. However, the vast majority of the church doesn't want to be fanatical or sound the alarm too early. Better to wait and see...or is it?
Look at what the "disciple whom Jesus loved" said more than 1900 years ago:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
Was John delusional? Was the one who laid his head on Jesus breast, the one the other disciples went to find out what Jesus was thinking...did he just make the ultimate mistake in sounding the alarm too early? No!
John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ from Jesus himself. Jesus could have revealed to John anything. Jesus didn't correct John's mistaken attitude, but rather agreed with John, filling in the details and giving John the one book in the Bible mandated to be taught:
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Jesus said "watch and be ready.". Those who were with Jesus said "watch and be ready." The church today says "let's wait and see....maybe, maybe not."
So, the question is: why did Jesus continue to encourage a posture in the builders of the church, the very foundation stones, of recognizing they were in the last days? I believe the answer is found in the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25.
Jesus described 10 Bridesmaids waiting for the groom. 5 wise bridesmaids filled their lamps with oil and took along extra, 5 others did not prepare...they just went with the little they had. They took a casual approach to the coming of the groom. Both sets of bridesmaids were waiting for Jesus...both confessing commitment to the groom. 5 took it seriously, and 5 took it casually. Then the long night. The wait was more than they were expecting, but the darkness was more than they were expecting, too. Enough oil turned out to be essential.
So, this is what I believe God is saying: the bridesmaids are my people, committed to being with me. The oil is the fuel of your fire...it is the history of encounter with Jesus. It is built up over time. It is not transferable to anyone else because it is the fruit of a fiery relationship with Jesus, built over time in the secret place. When the wait is long, and the night is dark, we will need this history of hearing the voice of our beloved...knowing Him...not just knowing about Him...to keep us steady. The events of the last days will offend many who take Jesus casually. Who don't share his concern for their own preparation or the preparation of others. The love of many is promised to grow cold. Paul stated that Jesus would not return until a great falling away of people from God has occurred (2 Thessalonians 2)...all of this points to one simple fact: the amount of oil in our reservoir...our personal history of encounter with Jesus...takes time to build. Intense preparation of agreeing with Jesus...burning brightly with a vibrant spirit from hearing His thoughts about the time we live in...this is essential BEFORE we are sure it is the time all of the Bible points to...before the long dark night.
Jesus intended all of His disciples to live lives of pressing-in, pouring it all out like it was the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter. Then their children would see what it really means to live prepared and in agreement with God, and their children, and their children. Something interrupted that flow of intensity.
Now is the time to remember the examples of those who knew Jesus best, to take their words to heart. For if they believed Jesus when the wood was green...how much more should we believe when the wood is dry?
Matthew 25: 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Luke 23:30 People will beg the mountains, `Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, `Bury us.'31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
As we see trouble unfold on the earth, many have a "wait and see" attitude about recognizing the times we live in as the "last days." The bible has SO much information concerning the events surrounding the return of Jesus, and what His people should do to prepare. The fate of our geographic locations literally hinges on God's people being in agreement with Him as He unfolds His plans to drive evil off the planet. However, the vast majority of the church doesn't want to be fanatical or sound the alarm too early. Better to wait and see...or is it?
Look at what the "disciple whom Jesus loved" said more than 1900 years ago:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
Was John delusional? Was the one who laid his head on Jesus breast, the one the other disciples went to find out what Jesus was thinking...did he just make the ultimate mistake in sounding the alarm too early? No!
John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ from Jesus himself. Jesus could have revealed to John anything. Jesus didn't correct John's mistaken attitude, but rather agreed with John, filling in the details and giving John the one book in the Bible mandated to be taught:
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Jesus said "watch and be ready.". Those who were with Jesus said "watch and be ready." The church today says "let's wait and see....maybe, maybe not."
So, the question is: why did Jesus continue to encourage a posture in the builders of the church, the very foundation stones, of recognizing they were in the last days? I believe the answer is found in the parable of the 10 bridesmaids in Matthew 25.
Jesus described 10 Bridesmaids waiting for the groom. 5 wise bridesmaids filled their lamps with oil and took along extra, 5 others did not prepare...they just went with the little they had. They took a casual approach to the coming of the groom. Both sets of bridesmaids were waiting for Jesus...both confessing commitment to the groom. 5 took it seriously, and 5 took it casually. Then the long night. The wait was more than they were expecting, but the darkness was more than they were expecting, too. Enough oil turned out to be essential.
So, this is what I believe God is saying: the bridesmaids are my people, committed to being with me. The oil is the fuel of your fire...it is the history of encounter with Jesus. It is built up over time. It is not transferable to anyone else because it is the fruit of a fiery relationship with Jesus, built over time in the secret place. When the wait is long, and the night is dark, we will need this history of hearing the voice of our beloved...knowing Him...not just knowing about Him...to keep us steady. The events of the last days will offend many who take Jesus casually. Who don't share his concern for their own preparation or the preparation of others. The love of many is promised to grow cold. Paul stated that Jesus would not return until a great falling away of people from God has occurred (2 Thessalonians 2)...all of this points to one simple fact: the amount of oil in our reservoir...our personal history of encounter with Jesus...takes time to build. Intense preparation of agreeing with Jesus...burning brightly with a vibrant spirit from hearing His thoughts about the time we live in...this is essential BEFORE we are sure it is the time all of the Bible points to...before the long dark night.
Jesus intended all of His disciples to live lives of pressing-in, pouring it all out like it was the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter. Then their children would see what it really means to live prepared and in agreement with God, and their children, and their children. Something interrupted that flow of intensity.
Now is the time to remember the examples of those who knew Jesus best, to take their words to heart. For if they believed Jesus when the wood was green...how much more should we believe when the wood is dry?
Matthew 25: 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Luke 23:30 People will beg the mountains, `Fall on us,' and plead with the hills, `Bury us.'31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
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