Are we prepared for a Crisis

While preparing yourselves for the big crisis`s in your life don’t neglect preparing yourself for the small ones that sneak in unnoticed, and yet prove deadly

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In our fellowship recently, there have been a few references to the parable of the 10 virgins, there have also been a posting on the church WhatsApp page about this parable which received a few acknowledgments amongst the fellowship. But as for me I have in the main ignored this parable and whatever points have been raised from it, because there is a lot of other stuff going on in my life and I did not find the time or the head space to read them. However, in preparing to write this blog the Lord again drew me to the truths and warnings of this parable. 

It is found in Matthew 25:1-13 and is a story told by Jesus to illustrate how we should be prepared for his return and how we should guard against complacency.  And with all that is going on in the World at the moment and the tension and crisis everywhere it is a timely reminder that we need our lives (lamps) topped up with the oil of the Holy Spirit so we will not be found wanting and floundering when the Lord returns. But I was also challenged when reading a commentary about the parable by a new-testament scholar I had never heard of: Dan O. Via.  He `considers the story of the bridesmaids as an example of a tragic parable with a U-shaped plot. The rising action of the parable is the preparation for the coming of the bridegroom, but a crisis occurs when the bridegroom is delayed. This is the turning point that leads to disaster` (Wikipedia reference). This really got me thinking about the things in life that come out of nowhere and throw us completely off course. Resulting in us finding ourselves feeling alone and separated from others, out of sync with the Lord`s plan and running around trying to work out what happened! In other words, we often plan and prepare for the big crisis`s in life (like the coming of the bridegroom (the Lord), but get thrown off course by a mini crisis (running out of oil) and find ourselves running around looking for answers in all the wrong places, and totally losing our peace and trust in the Lord. 

I was talking to someone recently about one of my favourite Bible Characters Elijah. He called all the people together on mount Carmel, built an altar, called down fire from Heaven to burn up the sacrifice and killed all the prophets of Baal. He then told King Ahab to prepare for rain after a 3 year drought. (1 Kings 18) But after seeing the most amazing miracle from the Lord and knowing what it felt like to be in the centre of the Lord's plan for his own life and for calling the children of Israel back to the Lord, he was taken apart by the words of a Godless woman  (1 Kings 19:2-3 NLT)  `So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you have killed them”.  Elijah was afraid and fled for his life`. Elijah has been prepared for the big crisis facing him, the calling of the people back to God by facilitating a miracle from the Lord and destroying the false teachings (prophets) in the land, but had allowed himself to be fearful and defeated by a simple threat. 

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This is the warning to me and us all, from the account of Elijah and from the parable of the 10 virgins. While preparing yourselves for the big crisis`s in your life don’t neglect preparing yourself for the small ones that sneak in unnoticed, and yet prove deadly. For each of us they come in different forms, tiredness, illness, disappointment, fear, someone criticising us, stress and worry robbing us of our peace, these are only some but for each one of us the list is different but just as devastating. The crisis has come and we have no oil in our lamps so we get distracted, discouraged and finally we feel defeated.  

We can find the solutions from the Word of God, we always can. Firstly, stop running around trying to find answers from lots of places, instead centre our attention on the Lord. In the case of Elijah, he had to stop bemoaning his lot and blaming everyone for his situation (1 kings 19:10 & 14 NLT) `I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars and killed everyone of your prophets. I am the only one left and now they are trying to kill me`. And was the Lord’s answer: - Oh so sorry Elijah, you poor man you have had so many bad things happen to you no wonder you feel so bad sob! Sob! No! it was a very practical caring answer: - Go back to where you started deviating from the path, and then do what I tell you to. Oh, and by the way you are not on your own as you thought, there are another 7000 people who are experiencing the same pressures you are and are serving me. So be encouraged. 

In the case of the Virgins, there was a preparatory warning. They had to stop running around begging oil from other people, being distracted and fearful that they would not have enough for the nights wait and then sleeping through the time they should have been buying oil. The word of the Lord to them was don’t become complacent. Never think you have enough, be constantly coming to me for enough oil (Spirit and Word) for the duration of the nights wait. Sometimes the answer you seek (in this case the coming of the bridegroom) will be delayed, so be prepared beforehand. When they first became aware they may not have enough oil, (or when we see problems start to arise) we should seek oil (Spirit, Word Guidance) from the oil supplier, draw close to the Lord. Don’t sleep hoping it all goes away, be proactive.

I am grateful to the Lord that he never leaves us without guidance or direction. That His word is never too early or too late. In the need to prepare a blog (without a single idea in my head when I sat down to write it) He has shouted the guidance He has been trying to whisper to me over the last few weeks, if only I would have listened.

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and for your grace that is always sufficient for all my needs. Today Lord help me to keep my lamp topped up both for the big crisis`s that face the world and maybe even our country and way of life, but also for the little crisis`s that slay me every day. Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, trusting, serving, till the break of day. 

Author: Jan Pearson

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