In Luke 19:44 Jesus is looking over the city of Jerusalem and laments on how His own people missed their time of visitation with Him. As this passage came to mind this morning I was trying to understand what made them miss their Messiah and their appointment with God himself?
After all, these people were so learned in scripture and their belief in Torah was woven into nearly every aspect of their lives, how on earth did they miss it? Then a phrase came to me "Too smart for their own good." Instantly it came together! The Jewish people relied too heavily on their own understanding of scripture!
This was the reason that many of the Jews missed their time of visitation. It was all due to own preconceived idea's and non Biblical "truths," taught by their religious elders. The Jews already had an idea of what the Messiah was to do when he came, so anything that did not line up with this small and limited concept of the Messiah, was just out of the question.
I see the same exact thing happening with the church. As scripture points out in Matthew 25:1-13, with the parable of the wise and unwise virgins. There will be two types of people waiting for Jesus return. (Jesus of course being the Bridegroom) You will have those with the oil or Spirit anointing and those without. Instead of coming with extra oil, the unwise virgins came with their own preconceived idea that they didn't need any extra oil, they believed that what they had was just enough.
Boy does this idea sound familiar? Many "Christians" tell me that the speaking in tongues is not necessary for salvation. The interesting fact of the matter is the Holy Spirit and anointing oil go hand in hand. I personally would rather have it and not need it, than not have it and need it.
The unwise virgins also made the mistake of assuming that the Bridegroom would come on their time and according to their own understanding of him. I imagine they had their own ideas of what things to expect and certain signs of his coming that comforted them, as they waited. This reminds me of all the end time ideas idea's floating around out there. So many people are banking on a "rapture." Others are awaiting for things to heat up in the middle east before they get serious. Others are awaiting a global government to form, and some are waiting for a construction of another physical Temple in Jerusalem.
Is it possible that all these preconceived idea's and accepted "truths" are what many in the church are counting on before they truly surrender to God? Is it possible that these ideas will cause many to miss their time of visitation? I believe the answer is yes.
As I go through life, I've tossed out many of my own preconceived ideas and false teachings I was once taught. I don't want to be one of the unwise virgins. I understand that holding personal thoughts and opinions at the same level as scripture is a good way to miss out with God.
After all, these people were so learned in scripture and their belief in Torah was woven into nearly every aspect of their lives, how on earth did they miss it? Then a phrase came to me "Too smart for their own good." Instantly it came together! The Jewish people relied too heavily on their own understanding of scripture!
This was the reason that many of the Jews missed their time of visitation. It was all due to own preconceived idea's and non Biblical "truths," taught by their religious elders. The Jews already had an idea of what the Messiah was to do when he came, so anything that did not line up with this small and limited concept of the Messiah, was just out of the question.
I see the same exact thing happening with the church. As scripture points out in Matthew 25:1-13, with the parable of the wise and unwise virgins. There will be two types of people waiting for Jesus return. (Jesus of course being the Bridegroom) You will have those with the oil or Spirit anointing and those without. Instead of coming with extra oil, the unwise virgins came with their own preconceived idea that they didn't need any extra oil, they believed that what they had was just enough.
Boy does this idea sound familiar? Many "Christians" tell me that the speaking in tongues is not necessary for salvation. The interesting fact of the matter is the Holy Spirit and anointing oil go hand in hand. I personally would rather have it and not need it, than not have it and need it.
The unwise virgins also made the mistake of assuming that the Bridegroom would come on their time and according to their own understanding of him. I imagine they had their own ideas of what things to expect and certain signs of his coming that comforted them, as they waited. This reminds me of all the end time ideas idea's floating around out there. So many people are banking on a "rapture." Others are awaiting for things to heat up in the middle east before they get serious. Others are awaiting a global government to form, and some are waiting for a construction of another physical Temple in Jerusalem.
Is it possible that all these preconceived idea's and accepted "truths" are what many in the church are counting on before they truly surrender to God? Is it possible that these ideas will cause many to miss their time of visitation? I believe the answer is yes.
As I go through life, I've tossed out many of my own preconceived ideas and false teachings I was once taught. I don't want to be one of the unwise virgins. I understand that holding personal thoughts and opinions at the same level as scripture is a good way to miss out with God.