Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Slumbering Without Preparation
Pastor Scott
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
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"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them...While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept."
(Matthew 25:3,5)
We are living in the most bizarre time since the creation of man. Knowledge has increased to where man now believes he can live forever through all of the genetic engineering. We live in that hour that the prophets said men would be running to and fro (Dan. 12:4). In other words, there would be no limit to our communication and ability to unify in our human identity. It's an interesting hour that we're living in.
We look for the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our treasures aren't here on the earth; they're in heaven. We're not earth dwellers; we have nothing in common. What's important to the world isn't important to us. So we pray, "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus." Since our treasures are not here, we look up, for our redemption is drawing nigh. The Lord said that He's going to appear to those that are looking for Him and that love His appearing (Heb. 9:28; 2 Tim. 4:8). So we realize the need to stir our hearts and to return to our first love.
Every one of us is vexed on a daily basis. The sins and the weights that do so easily beset us affect every one of us. Every day that we go into this environment we're affected. What do we do to cleanse ourselves and to take off these weights that have been put upon us from the day's activities? If you've lost your first love, you're not spending that time in preparation to purify yourself as He is pure. As the things of this world continue to weigh you down, you lose your joy and your peace. You lose a desire for the Word, and prayer is something that's just scheduled in. His presence isn't what satisfies alone, nor is there a willingness to sell all that you have to obtain the Pearl of great price. When was the last time you prayed, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus"? People are getting comfortable with this life's existence, changing the treasures to house, family, vocation, and things.
The parable of Matthew 25 tells us that when the Lord comes, ten virgins will be waiting but only five prepared. The five that are lost come later and say, "Lord, let us in," but He's going to say, "I never knew you." Those five journeyed with the others to that place to wait. Their doctrine was a doctrine of waiting. They could recite the passages that the Bridegroom was coming. There was only one thing wrong: they were short of oil. They knew where to get it, but they slumbered without preparation. You'd better not slumber if you're not prepared. There's no time to rest if you're not prepared. If you don't have sufficient oil to last, then this is the time to forsake everything that's drawing on your time and your energy and make sure you've got some oil! Do whatever is necessary to lock yourself up somewhere until you've encountered God, your life has been changed, the course has been re-established, and you've returned to your first love! Those five were gathered with the other five; they just weren't ready. They set out on the same course; they just didn't finish the race. I wish we'd all been ready.