Now is not the time to be binge-watching Netflix. Jesus is coming back, and we must have oil in our lamps, ready for His return. Are you living your life differently today than you would if you knew He were coming back tomorrow?
That question may convict you. Jesus wants you to live fully for Him every day of your life, storing up oil so you are always prepared for His return.
In a recent episode of my podcast, Awaken the Wonder on the Charisma Podcast Network, I discuss the time we are in. This is a season of Matthew 25, the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Matthew 25:3-5 (NLT) says, “The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”
The Word says that both the wise and foolish virgins fell asleep! It also says no man knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:36), but we do know He is going to return. When you read the Word, you can see that there are signs all around us and many things are already happening, but all of the virgins fell asleep in the season. We must be like the five virgins who had oil in their lamps and were ready.
Matthew 25:6-9 says, “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.”
The foolish virgins went into the town to get oil, and when the bridegroom came, he took the virgins who were ready. Every day we must be storing up oil in the secret place with the Lord. Do you want to walk the fence of living in the world and living in the kingdom? It is not enough to just get by each day with a little bit of time in the secret place. We must be living in constant communion with the Lord.
When you are training for a marathon, you do the work in advance; you can’t wake up that day and decide to run 26 miles. You make choices throughout the day to make sure you are prepared and in shape for your race. Your lack of preparation for the marathon will cause you a lot of issues, and the same goes for Jesus’ return. If you are honest with yourself, would you say you spend more time scrolling through social media and listening to the news or alone in your prayer closet with Jesus?
Get in His face every day. Ask the Lord to minister to you, tell Him you love Him and know Him personally. We have to be ready for what Jesus is doing right now. The enemy will try and distract you with everything going on in the world. He will use COVID-19, the election and riots to take your mind off the Lord, but we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus. The world will continue to grow in distractions, but the Lord is with you always. He doesn’t want you focused on things that are not of Him and His kingdom.
As believers, we carry the light of the world inside of us. There is a lost a dying world that needs the hope that lives inside you. You can look at all of the news stations and what they are saying, what President Trump’s Twitter is saying; you can look at what everyone else is saying, but don’t forget what Jesus is saying. He has set you apart, chosen you as a signet ring to release God’s kingdom on earth. The Spirit of God is hovering over every situation, and He wants you to release His glory across the earth.
We must have hope in this season and get oil in our lamps. {eoa}
Evangelist Caleb Wampler is founder and CEO of Kingdom Encounters International. He has seen hundreds of thousands of people come to Jesus in countries that are hostile to the gospel, witnessed incredible miracles and regularly experiences God’s wonder.
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