The other day, an old friend and I had our weekly meeting. He helps me with my Hebrew, and I help him with issues of the faith. Although he has been a believer for many years now, because of ADD and other comprehension difficulties, he has a hard time with abstract biblical concepts. Even though he is familiar with many of the biblical stories and believes the gospel, his grasp is restricted to a more child-like faith. On the other hand, his wife is a firm believer with extensive knowledge of the scriptures. She also keeps up with events unfolding in today's world and relates them to biblical prophecy, especially the end times.
Before our recent meeting, his wife compared my friend to one
of the five proverbial virgins who did not have enough oil in their lamps to
make it to the midnight hour. Along with
that observation, she exhorted him to take an interest in Matthew 24’s end-time description
and in Revelation. My friend told me
frankly and straightforwardly that he wasn’t interested in these speculations
and interpretations of biblical events pertaining to the future, and that even
if he did, what does it have to do with oil…. ?!
For my part, I wasn’t about to try to convince him that
looking into the future for fearful disasters would help him fill his
lamp. But I did say that he needed to
understand his present moment-by-moment relationship with Yeshua and the Father
in the Holy Spirit. Having an awareness that He never leaves or forsakes us and
that He is present with us, pouring out His oil of love and embracing us with
His faithfulness, we will be experiencing His kingdom of peace and contentment.
In the wake of these shared thoughts, I asked my friend how he felt. He responded positively, stating that these words made
him feel good. I continued to ask him
to think about a news article concerning an asteroid that was supposed to hit
the Earth, causing many to die. I then asked how that made him feel. His reply was like any of us would respond,
scared, fearful, and ill at ease. So why
would we, in any given moment, engage ourselves and our emotions in unknown
future events distracting our present relationship with He Who is the Way, the
Truth, and our Life? We can only know
His present Presence in a moment-by-moment conscious awareness. This is why
Yeshua instructed His followers in Matthew 6:25-34: “For this reason, I say
to you, do not be anxious for your life… Are you not worth much more than they
[birds]? "And which of you by
being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing?...
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you. Therefore, do
not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own.”
"He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live
and move and have our being” (Acts 17:27-28).
Yeshua admonishes us to be careful and discern what we draw
from the past or speculate about the future and then bring into our present
thought life. When we seek Him first,
above all else, we are set on the Way that leads to the Truth and Life that
make up Elohim's Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. Being in a state of
worship, we are known in YHVH's present presence, allowing us to partake of His
goodness and faithfulness, which yields the fruit of the Spirit. Children typically live in the moment with very little care about the past or future.
This is one of the reasons why Yeshua states so emphatically: "Assuredly,
I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will
by no means enter the kingdom of heaven and, "Let the little
children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of
heaven" (Matthew 18:3;19:14).
