It's just too good to be true but it is true! That we can meet with the Lord, the Creator of the Universe, the Lord of heaven and earth, the Author and the Finisher, our Redeemer, our King, the lover of our souls... in secret. He says that we will find Him when we search for Him with our whole heart. In that secret place with Him, as we humble ourselves, worship Him, wait in Him, renew our minds with His Word, call upon Him in prayer.....He fills us. He consumes. He transforms. He teaches us, leads us, guides us He becomes our All in All and teaches us how to live as a branch abiding in the vine. Thank you Lord!
I'm thinking about the ten virgins of Matthew 25 today. Jesus said the Kingdom ofHeaven is like this, so we know it is a timeless truth for us today. Five wise. Five foolish. They all had lamps, waiting for the bridegroom's return, but the wise were prepared with oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom arrived, those who had prepared with reserves of oil to keep their lamps lit were recognized by the groom and went in with him for the wedding. The others were unprepared, scrambling to borrow oil or try to go buy some. Their lamps went out. They tried to come late, but the groom replied with some of the saddest words in the Bible, "I tell you the truth, I do not know you." And He shut the door on those poor unprepared ones. Following the parable, Jesus gives us the admonition, "Therefore KEEP WATCH, because you do not know the day or the hour."Every time I read the account, in my mind I want those who had oil to please share with the ones who are without. But here's the truth. Every person has to get their own oil. Everyone has to keep their own lamp burning. Every person is responsible to be ready and to cultivate their own relationship with the Lord. And the place where we do that is in the secret place of His presence, in His Word, in worship, in prayer. In the Secret Place we will know Him, and He will know us. In the Secret Place we keep watch, and there is abundance of oil to keep our lamps lit for the day and for the journey and for the return of our Bridegroom.
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