The Precipice

There were wise virgins but there were also foolish ones.

The sons of Issachar were wise, because they knew what Israel needed to do during a specific timeframe in the history of their nation.

We marvel at the decadence of moral values and the disintegration of our societies. Financial crisis, wars, a rise in new variants of unknown diseases, and poverty, but there’s a lot more to come.

My aim isn’t to dampen our spirits with negativity but spur us to awaken from our slumber. 

The days we’re in require us to have lamps filled to overflowing with oil, burning brightly. Oil not just for ourselves but enough to spill over into the decaying communities around us.

Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Who is the power at work within us, we are relegated to a people who substitute social justice for the power of God.

Our societies are full of people bound by addictions of varying kinds and degrees, circumstances that require the Dunamis power of God to intervene and break the unseen chains and shackles holding people captive.

Our ignorance of the unseen spiritual world, which controls the things taking place in the natural seen world, has led to myriads of people carelessly opening doors that have allowed the enemy a foothold in their lives. 

People, oppressed, tormented and entangled in strongholds that defy natural remedies.

The time to dust off our lamps, fill up with oil and get into spiritual shape is now! 

Our bones are not dried, and hope is not lost. 

“Bone to bone, sinew and flesh, O house of Israel receive now His breath”.

The night is far spent, and the bridegroom is almost here. Our flickering wicks need to burst into full blown flames, each flame igniting the other, as we all come together in unity for the advancement of the Kingdom.

Can you hear Him calling?

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8.

The table is set

I woke up at exactly 4:13 am, to cook the meal that I was going to take to the venue later on that day, I wanted it to be ready in good time, and also wanted to get there on time. It was hard work cutting the chicken pieces into little dices, especially that early in the morning, and I had to chop up and stir fry the onions at the beginning to infuse my rice dish with a preferred flavour; but I wanted it to taste just right. I boiled the chicken bits first, because I wanted to use its stock to flavour the rice, but it was worth the effort; after all I wanted to create a great tasting dish.

With numerous rice grains spilling over onto the cooker, two dashes to my local corner shop (as I ran out of red onions mid-way), having to buy a replacement bag of mixed vegetables, as the one purchased the day before was out of date, then needing to go back in to the shop, because I realised when I got back in with the mixed vegetables, that I’d forgotten to pick up the red onions!, at 9:24 am, I stepped into the bathroom to take a bath.

On arrival at the venue, I proudly handed over my lovingly made rice dish to one of the ladies in charge, and was asked to put it on a table along with a host of other food items. I felt greatly satisfied with what I had made, and the sacrifice I had paid to put the dish together (I was up at 4:13 am!); it was a real labour of love.

Helping to tidy up a couple of hours later, I was disappointed to find that my sumptuous, lovingly made rice recipe had barely been eaten! I had poured my heart and soul into making that rice recipe, and I loathed to think that all my hard work would end up in the bin; so I took a chance opportunity to ask if anyone wanted to take some rice away, but everyone I asked declined.

“Lord it’s a shame that hardly anyone ate my rice”, I said as I re-iterated everything It took me just to get it ready, as I walked and talked to Him on my way home. “I know exactly how you feel”, he said lovingly, “a long while ago, I prepared a great feast and poured everything I had into getting it ready”, and then He proceeded to remind me about the parable of the great banquet…

Luke 14: 15 – 24. “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.
 “Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”