Latest / Wisdom of the Ages Library / 30 - Thee Meet the Bridgegroom - Christ's Object Lessons

Transcript

30 - Thee Meet the Bridgegroom - Christ's Object Lessons · Wisdom of the Ages Library

0:00
Chapter thirty to meet the bridegroom, Christ with his disciples, is seated upon
0:06
the mount of Olives. The sun has set behind the mountains and the heavens
0:11
are curtained with the shades of evening. In full view is a dwelling house
0:15
lighted up brilliantly, as if for some festive scene. The light streams from
0:20
the openings, and an expectant company wait around, indicating that a marriage procession
0:25
is soon to appear. In many parts of the East, wedding festivities are
0:29
held in the evening. The bridegroom goes forth to meet his bride and bring
0:33
her to his home by torchlight. The bridal party proceed from her father's house
0:38
to his own, where a feast is provided for the invited guests. In
0:42
the scene upon which Christ looks, a company are awaiting the appearance of the
0:46
bridal party, intending to join the procession. Lingering near the bride's house,
0:51
a ten young women robed in white. Each carries a lighted lamp and a
0:56
small flagon for oil. All are anxiously watching for the appearance of the bridegroom,
1:00
but there is a delay. Hour after hour passes the watchers become weary
1:06
and fall asleep. At midnight, the cry is heard, Behold the bridegroom
1:11
cometh, go ye out to meet him. The sleepers, suddenly awaking,
1:15
spring to their feet. They see the procession moving on, bright with torturees
1:19
and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice
1:23
of the bride. The ten maidens seize their lamps and begin to trim them
1:26
in haste to go forth. But five have neglected to fill their flasks with
1:30
oil. They did not anticipate so long a delay, and they have not
1:34
prepared for the emergency. In distress, they appeal to their wiser companions,
1:38
saying, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out.
1:42
But the waiting five, with their freshly trimmed lamps, have emptied their flagons.
1:48
They have no oil to spare, And they answer, not so lest
1:52
there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them
1:55
that sell and buy for yourselves. While they went to buy, the procession
2:00
moved on and left them behind. The five with lighted lamps joined the throng
2:04
and entered the house with the bridle train, and the door was shut when
2:07
the foolish virgins reached the banqueting hall, they received an unexpected denial. The
2:12
master of the feast declared, I know you not. They were left standing
2:16
without in the empty street in the blackness of the night. As Christ sat
2:22
looking upon the party that waited for the bridegroom, he told his disciples the
2:25
story of the ten virgins, by their experience, illustrating the experience of the
2:30
church that shall live just before his second coming. The two classes of watchers
2:36
represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are
2:39
called virgins because they profess a pure faith. By the lamps is represented the
2:45
word of God. The Psalmist says, thy word is a lamp unto my
2:50
feet, and a light unto my path. The oil is a symbol of
2:54
the Holy Spirit. Thus the spirit is represented in the prophecy of Zechariah.
3:00
The angel that talked with me came again, he says, and waked me
3:04
as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said, unto
3:07
me, what seest thou? And I said, I have looked and behold
3:12
a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it,
3:15
and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which
3:20
are upon the top thereof, and two olive trees by it, one upon
3:23
the right side of the bowl and the other upon the left side thereof.
3:27
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying,
3:30
what are these? My Lord? Then he answered and spake unto me,
3:34
saying, this is a word of the Lord, unto Zeribabel, saying,
3:38
not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord
3:43
of hosts. And I answered again and said unto him, what be these
3:46
two olive branches, which, through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil
3:51
out of themselves. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones that
3:54
stand by the Lord of the whole earth. From the two olive trees,
4:00
the golden oil was emptied through the golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick,
4:03
and thence into the golden lamps that give light to the sanctuary. So
4:06
from the holy ones that stand in God's presence, his spirit is imparted to
4:12
the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to his service. The mission of the two
4:16
Anointed Ones is to communicate to God's people that heavenly grace, which alone can
4:21
make his word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path.
4:26
Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord
4:30
of Hosts. In the Parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet
4:33
the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there
4:39
was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before
4:43
Christ's second coming, all have a knowledge of the scriptures, all have heard
4:46
the message of Christ's near approach, and confidently expect his appearing. But as
4:53
in the Parable, so it is now a time of waiting intervenes. Faith
4:57
is tried, and when the cry is heard, behold the bridegroom cometh,
5:01
Go ye out to meet him. Many are unready. They have no oil
5:05
in their vessels with their lamps, they are destitute of the Holy Spirit.
5:10
Without the Spirit of God, a knowledge of His word is of no avail.
5:14
The theory of truth unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit cannot quicken the soul or
5:18
sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the
5:23
Bible, but unless the Spirit of God sets the truth home, the character
5:27
will not be transformed. Without the enlightenment of the spirit, men will not
5:31
be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful
5:35
temptations of Satan. The class represented by the foolish Virgins are not hypocrites.
5:41
They have a regard for the truth. They have advocated the truth. They
5:45
are attracted to those who believe the truth. But they have not yielded themselves
5:48
to the holy spirits working. They have not fallen upon the rock Christ Jesus
5:54
and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class are represented also
5:58
by the stony ground. Here they receive the Word with readiness, but they
6:01
fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. The Spirit works
6:09
upon man's heart according to his desire and consent, implanting in him a new
6:14
nature. But the class represented by the foolish Virgins have been content with a
6:17
superficial work. They do not know God, they have not studied his character,
6:24
they have not held communion with Him. Therefore they do not know how
6:27
to trust, how to look and live. Their service to God degenerates into
6:30
a form. They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit
6:35
before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will
6:40
not do them. For with their mouth they show much love, but their
6:43
heart goeth after their covetousness. The Apostle Paul points out that this will be
6:48
the special characteristic of those who live just before Christ's second coming. He says,
6:54
in the last days, perilous times shall come, for men shall be
6:58
lovers of their own selves, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,
7:01
having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof. This is the
7:06
class that, in time of peril, are found crying peace and safety.
7:11
They lull their hearts into security and dream not of danger. When startled from
7:15
their lethargy, they discern their destitution and entreat others to supply their lack.
7:20
But in spiritual things, no man can make up another's deficiency. The grace
7:26
of God has been freely offered to every soul. The message of the Gospel
7:30
has been heralded. Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let
7:34
him take the water of life freely. But character is not transferable. No
7:40
man can believe for another, no man can receive the spirit for another.
7:45
No man can impart to another. The character, which is the fruit of
7:48
the spirit's working. Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it the land,
7:54
as I live, saith the Lord, they shall deliver neither son nor
7:57
daughter. They shall but deliver their own soul by their righteousness. It is
8:01
in a crisis that character is revealed. When the earnest voice proclaimed at midnight,
8:07
behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him, and the
8:11
sleeping virgins were roused from their slumbers. It was seen who had made preparation
8:15
for the event. Both parties were taken unawares, but one was prepared for
8:20
the emergency, and the other was found without preparation. So now a sudden
8:24
and unlooked for calamity, something that brings the soul face to face with death,
8:30
will show whether there is any real faith in the promises of God.
8:33
It will show whether the soul is sustained by grace. The great final test
8:39
comes at the close of human probation, when it will be too late for
8:41
the soul's need to be supplied. The ten virgins are watching in the evening
8:46
of this earth's history. All claim to be Christians, all have a call,
8:50
a name, a lamp, and all professed to be doing God's service.
8:54
All apparently wait for Christ's appearing, but five are unready be found surprised
9:01
dismayed outside the banquet hall. At the final day, many will claim admission
9:05
to Christ's kingdom, saying, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence,
9:09
and thou hast taught in our streets? Lord Lord, have we not prophesied
9:13
in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils? And in
9:16
thy name done many wonderful works? But the answer is, I tell you,
9:22
I know ye not, whence ye are depart from me in this life.
9:26
They have not entered into fellowship with Christ. Therefore they know not the
9:30
language of heaven. They are strangers to its joy. What man knoweth the
9:35
things of a man, save the spirit of a man, which is in
9:37
him. Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit
9:41
of God. Saddest of all words that ever fell on mortal ear are those
9:46
words of doom. I know you not. The fellowship of the Spirit which
9:52
you have slighted could alone make you one with the joyous throng at the marriage
9:56
feast. In that scene you cannot participate. Its light would fall on blinded
10:01
eyes its melody upon deaf ears, Its love and joy could awake no cord
10:05
of gladness in the world. Benumbed heart, you are shut out from Heaven
10:09
by your own unfitness for its companionship. We cannot be ready to meet the
10:15
Lord by waking when the cry is heard behold the bridegroom, and then gathering
10:20
up our empty lamps to have them replenished. We cannot keep Christ depart from
10:24
our lives here and yet be fitted for his companionship in heaven. In the
10:28
parable, the wise virgins had oil in their vessels. With their lamps,
10:33
their light burned with undimmed flame through the night of watching. It helped to
10:37
swell the illumination for the bridegroom's honor shining out in the darkness. It helped
10:41
to illuminate the way to the home of the bridegroom to the marriage feast.
10:46
So the followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world
10:50
through the Holy Spirit. God's word is a light as it becomes a transforming
10:54
power in the life of the receiver. By implanting in their hearts the principles
11:00
of his word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God,
11:03
the light of his glory, his character is to shine forth in his followers.
11:09
Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the path to the bridegroom's
11:13
home, to the City of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
11:16
The coming of the bridegroom was at midnight, the darkest hour. So
11:20
the coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth's history.
11:26
The days of Noah and Lot picture the condition of the world just before
11:30
the coming of the Son of Man. The scriptures pointing forward to this time
11:33
declare that Satan will work with all power and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.
11:39
His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness, the multitudinous errors,
11:45
heresies, and delusions of these last days. Not only is Satan leading the
11:50
world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus
11:54
Christ. The great Apostasy will develop into darkness, deep as midnight, impenetrable
12:00
as sackcloth of hair. To God's people, it will be a night of
12:03
trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth's sake.
12:09
But out of that night of darkness, God's light will shine. He
12:13
causes the light to shine out of darkness. When the earth was without form
12:16
and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, the spirit
12:20
of God moved upon the face of the waters, and God said, let
12:24
there be light, and there was light. So in the night of spiritual
12:28
darkness, God's word goes forth, Let there be light to his people.
12:33
He says, Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the
12:37
glory of the Lord is risen upon thee behold, says the scripture. The
12:43
darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people. But the Lord shall
12:46
arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee. It is the
12:52
darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their
12:56
knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood, good and misinterpreted. At
13:01
this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in
13:05
its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known.
13:11
Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of his
13:13
glory, the light of His goodness, mercy and truth. This is the
13:18
work outlined by the prophet Isaiah in the words O Jerusalem, that bringest good
13:24
tidings. Lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up. Be not
13:28
afraid, say, unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God. Behold
13:31
the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arms shall rule for
13:35
him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
13:41
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people,
13:45
behold your God. The last rays of merciful light. The last message of
13:50
mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of his character of love.
13:54
The children of God are to manifest His glory in their own life and
13:58
character. They are to rever feel what the grace of God has done for
14:01
them. The light of the Son of Righteousness is to shine forth in good
14:05
works, in words of truth and deeds of holiness. Christ, the outshining
14:11
of the Father's glory, came to the world as its light. He came
14:15
to represent God to men and of him. It is written that he was
14:18
anointed with the Holy ghost and with power, and went about doing good in
14:22
the synagogue at Nazareth. He said, the spirit of the Lord is upon
14:26
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.
14:31
He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the
14:35
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
14:39
that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. This was
14:43
the work he commissioned his disciples to do. Ye are the light of the
14:48
world. He said, Let your light so shine before men, that they
14:52
may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.
14:56
This is the work which the prophet Isaiah describes when he s said, is
15:00
it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the
15:03
poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked,
15:07
that thou cover him, and that thou hidest not thyself from thine own flesh,
15:11
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall
15:16
spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before thee. The glory of
15:20
the Lord shall be thy reward. Thus, in the night of spiritual darkness,
15:24
God's glory is to shine forth through his church, in lifting up the
15:28
bowed down and comforting those that mourn. All around us are heard. The
15:33
wails of a world's sorrow. On every hand are the needy and distressed.
15:37
It is ours to aid in relieving and softening life's hardships and misery. Practical
15:43
work will have far more effect than mere sermonizing. We are to give food
15:48
to the hungry, clothing to the naked, and shelter to the homeless.
15:52
And we are called to do more than this. The wants of the soul
15:54
only the love of Christ can satisfy. If Christ is abiding in us,
16:00
our hearts will be full of divine sympathy. The sealed fountains of earnest christ
16:04
like love will be unsealed. God calls not only for our gifts for the
16:10
needy, but for our cheerful countenance, our hopeful words, our kindly hand
16:15
clasp. When Christ healed the sick, he laid his hands upon them.
16:19
So should we come in close touch with those whom we seek to benefit.
16:23
There are many from whom hope has departed. Bring back the sunshine to them.
16:29
Many have lost their courage. Speak to them words of cheer, Pray
16:33
for them. There are those who need the bread of life. Read to
16:36
them from the word of God. Upon many is a soul sickness, which
16:40
no earthly balm can reach, nor physician heal. Pray for these souls,
16:45
bring them to Jesus, Tell them that there is a balm in Gilead and
16:48
a physician there. Light is a blessing, a universal blessing, pouring forth
16:53
its treasures on a world unthankful, unholy, demoralized. So it is with
16:59
the light of the Sun of Righteousness, the whole earth, rapt as it
17:03
is in the darkness of sin and sorrow and pain, is to be lighted
17:07
with the knowledge of God's love. From no sect, rank, or class
17:11
of people is the light shining from Heaven's throne to be excluded. The message
17:17
of hope and mercy is to be carried to the ends of the earth.
17:21
Whosoever will may reach forth and take hold of God's strength and make peace with
17:25
him, and he shall make peace no longer other heathen to be wrapped in
17:30
midnight darkness. The gloom is to disappear before the bright beams of the Sun
17:34
of Righteousness. The power of Hell has been overcome. But no man can
17:40
impart that which he himself has not received in the work of God. Humanity
17:45
can originate nothing, No man can, by his own effort, make himself
17:49
a light bearer for God. It was the golden oil emptied by the heavenly
17:53
messengers into the golden tubes to be conducted from the Golden Bowl into the lamps
17:59
of the sanctuary that produced a continuous, bright and shining light. It is
18:03
the love of God, continually transferred to man, that enables him to impart
18:08
light into the hearts of all who are united to God by faith. The
18:12
golden oil of Love flows freely to shine out again in good works, in
18:18
real, heartfelt service for God. In the great and measureless gift of the
18:22
Holy Spirit, are contained all of Heaven's resources. It is not because of
18:26
any restriction on the part of God that the riches of his grace do not
18:30
flow earthward to men. If all were willing to receive, all would become
18:36
filled with His spirit. It is the privilege of every soul to be a
18:40
living channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of his grace,
18:45
the unsearchable riches of Christ. There is nothing that Christ desires so much
18:49
as agents who will represent to the world his spirit and character. There is
18:53
nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour's
18:59
love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the Holy
19:03
oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts. Christ has made every
19:08
provision that his Church shall be a transformed body, illumined with the light of
19:14
the world, possessing the glory of Immanuel. It is his purpose that every
19:18
Christian shall be surrounded with the spiritual atmosphere of light and peace. He desires
19:22
that we shall reveal his own joy in our lives. The indwelling of the
19:27
Spirit will be shown by the outflowing of heavenly love. The divine fullness will
19:33
flow through the consecrated human agent, to be given forth to others. The
19:37
Sun of righteousness has healing in his wings, so from every true disciple is
19:42
to be diffused an influence for life, courage, helpfulness, and true healing.
19:48
The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sins. It means
19:52
taking away our sins and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit.
19:57
It means divine illumination, rejoicing in God. It means a heart emptied
20:03
of self and blessed with the abiding presence of Christ. When Christ reigns in
20:07
the soul, there is purity, freedom from sin, the glory, the
20:11
fullness, the completeness of the Gospel plan is fulfilled in the life. The
20:17
acceptance of the Savior brings a glow of perfect peace, perfect love, perfect
20:22
assurance. The beauty and fragrance of the character of Christ revealed in the life
20:26
testifies that God has indeed sent his son into the world to be its savior.
20:33
Christ does not bid his followers strive to shine. He says, let
20:37
your light shine. If you have received the grace of God, the light
20:41
is in you. Remove the obstructions, and the Lord's glory will be revealed.
20:47
The light will shine forth to penetrate and dispel the darkness you cannot help,
20:52
shining within the range of your influence. The revelation of his own glory
20:56
in the form of humanity will bring Heaven so near to men that the beauty
21:00
adorning the Inner Temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Savior dwells.
21:06
Men will be captivated by the glory of an abide in Christ, and
21:10
in currents of praise and thanksgiving from the many souls. Thus one to God.
21:14
Glory will flow back to the Great Giver. Arise, shine, for
21:18
Thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee
21:22
To those who go out to meet the Bridegroom. Is this message given.
21:26
Christ is coming with power and great glory. He is coming with his own
21:30
glory and with the glory of the Father. He is coming with all the
21:34
Holy angels with him. While all the world is plunged in darkness, there
21:40
will be a light in every dwelling of the saints. They will catch the
21:42
first light of his second appearing. The unsullied light will shine from his splendor,
21:48
and Christ the Redeemer will be admired by all who have served him,
21:52
while the wicked flee from his presence. Christ's followers will rejoice. The patriarch,
21:59
job looking down unto the time of Christ's second Advent, said, whom
22:03
I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold. And not a
22:07
stranger to his faithful followers, Christ has been a daily companion and a familiar
22:11
friend. They have lived in close contact, in close communion with God.
22:18
Upon them, the glory of the Lord has risen in them. The light
22:22
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has
22:25
been reflected. Now they rejoice in the undimmed rays of the brightness and glory
22:30
of the King in his majesty. They are prepared for the communion of heaven,
22:33
for they have heaven in their hearts, with uplifted heads, with the
22:38
bright beams of the sun of righteousness shining upon them. With rejoicing that their
22:42
redemption draweth nigh, they go forth to meet the bridegroom, saying, lo,
22:48
this is our God. We have waited for him, and he will
22:51
save us. And I heard, as it were the voice of a great
22:56
multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of
23:00
mighty thunderings, saying alle Luyah. For the Lord God, omnipotent, reigneth.
23:04
Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him. For the
23:08
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready,
23:14
and he saith unto me. Right blessed are they which are called unto the
23:18
marriage supper of the Lamb. He is Lord of lords and king of kings,
23:22
and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful. End
23:29
of Chapter thirty