Wise or Foolish?
by Jim Person
Are we wise or foolish? In my understanding, at our spiritual birth we are transformed in our being to be alive in Christ Jesus. We then begin to recognize sinfulness and ungodly conduct in our lives. But if we do not allow this to happen in our thinking, our choices, and our emotions, then we are fooling ourselves. We are not really transformed in our whole body, soul, and spirit (Romans 12:2-3).
Jesus told us about the foolish and wise virgins. Both groups were diligent to make themselves ready to meet the bridegroom. We are told five were wise. Before going to sleep, they prepared by buying extra oil. Because they paid the price beforehand, they were prepared in the middle of the night when the call came to meet the bridegroom. Five were not ready because they went to sleep thinking they had another day to prepare.
These three areas of our being (mind, will, and emotions) are located in our soul, and when we walk in `soulish` conduct, we are not gratifying what the Spirit desires for our lives. To truly be transformed, we must allow change to happen in the depths of our souls. Those deep thoughts, those hidden areas that we choose to allow to continue to rule our lives, are the very ones God wants to change.
Are we playing games with our maker? Are we just showing off? Are we afraid to let go of the familiar? Or worse, are we celebrating our `soulishness` and letting it reign?
Are you ready? Or are you putting off until tomorrow what the Spirit desires to transform in your life?
We need to go and buy from those who have the oil, my brothers and sisters. For the days are short, and the time is speeding up before the return of our Savior. As His bride, we need to make ourselves ready.
Jim Person Jim grew up in Alaska and from a small child commercial fished every summer with his family. God called him, his wife Tanya, and their four children to move to Hungary as missionaries in 2003. God then led him to join Ellel Ministries in 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where he is now serving with the Ellel USA team. Jim and Tanya have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom. They also love mentoring the existing and developing Ellel teams wherever God leads them. Jim also has a real gift for working with the land to create a beautiful and welcoming environment.
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