Wisdom often looks like waiting, but that can be an illusion. For the wisdom we need is not based on quiet patience, and studied learning, but rather received from heaven, filling us with revelations by the Holy Spirit. Waiting for the return of Christ does not come by human effort, that is unsustainable, rather it requires faith, the hand of God, and the in-filling of the Holy Spirit, such that having done all, we can stand. As is revealed from the warning from Jesus in the parable of the ten virgins, our watch for Him is not one of little preparation, rather best walked out through ongoing devotion to Him, and a life filled with the Holy Spirit. And so it becomes apparent, that our daily walk has to be one of learning to be guided by, filled with, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, if we are to be able to be like the five wise virgins, whose lamp was ready when the angelic cry is heard, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him’. It is He, one of the Holy Trinity, that was sent by the Father to bring us in to all knowledge and wisdom and equipping us for the work of the kingdom of God. It is by the Holy Spirit we can watch and wait for the return of Jesus Christ.
So our mission, is to get to know Him, to receive His baptism from within (by faith in Christ), and from above, through seeking the Lord and prayer, and learning to live with the ‘Comforter’, ‘Helper’, and power of God reigning in our lives. While unseen, it is He that is more real than the air we breathe, and completely necessary for life in God’s kingdom. He will shower us with gifts, and the Father and Son will be glorified as we use them according to His prompting. There is so much to learn about the Holy Spirit, and it does take faith, believing the unseen, putting aside our fears, and trusting the word of God (particularly as revealed in the Bible), rather than falling back to what we ‘know’, and see. It will seem a little scary at first, but so much fun and surprise as we learn to know and obey Him. Essential is He for our Christ-given mission to watch for His return.
So, when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:39,40)
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:1-13)
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8)
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