Monday, June 1, 2015

LOINS AND LIGHTS



Jack Davis

May we face the future with expectation, and joy, as we seriously consider it our opportunity to grow and glow, know and sow. While awaiting any moment to catch our signal to go. What we have from our Lord, let us faithfully hold fast, while trusting His promises, on Him let our every care be cast.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord… Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Lk. 12:34-36,40

This warning was to prepare Israel for the Messiah’s second coming, but praise God, Jesus is coming first for us in the Church. As we look at what’s occurring in the world daily, we know that event (the coming of Jesus) is at hand. When Jesus said, “Let” here, He is speaking of keeping in a continual state of readiness. In this warning we find two important elements expressed. For the “loins” to be girded speaks of a readiness for travel. “Girded” also speaks of restraint from the relaxation that would hinder from maintaining a state of constant expectation.

Having the lights or lamps burning, speaks of illumination and radiation. Ps. 119:105, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Our light may not appear to shine very far, but as we walk, the path is illuminated for the next step of faith. We long for that last step that precedes the catching away to be with our Lord at His return. Keeping our loins girded and our lights burning seems to point to a conduct indicating an attitude of loyalty and faithfulness which overcomes laxity, indifference and spiritual dullness.

Strengthening for Shining: By the power of God’s Word working effectually in our lives, we are strengthened for shining. In Genesis we read that God said, “Let there be light.” God saw “that the light was good.” Then He pronounced that light “good.” This natural light pictures for us the spiritual light which He commanded to shine into us to expel the darkness from our hearts. Oh, in these weakening, darkening days, how great is the need for the constant intake of God’s wonderful Word. His Word would serve for protection as a loin girder and for projection as a light giver.

Protection: David wrote, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” And “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” Ps. 119:11,9

Projection: It is good that the Word be hid in our hearts, but not under a bushel. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” Mt. 5:16. We read in Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the just is as a shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” -Dan. 123. The fact expressed here shall be true of overcomers out of every Age.

Paul admonished the lovers of the race to “do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless, and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth (fast) the Word of life” – Phil. 2:14-16.

In Matthew 25:1-4 Jesus said, “The wise took oil.” The oil causes the light to shine. The Christ life is our light. Our spirit life is fed on the Spirit and the Word. The Holy Spirit is the oil, fuel or power which causes our lights to burn brightly and constantly. “The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord” – Prov. 20:27.

God’s Word expresses His will. In Eph. 5:18 Paul wrote, “Be filled with the Spirit.” The Greek rendering expresses it, “Keep on filling,” or “Keep on drinking.” If we don’t, the darkening influence of the world will cause our lights to dim, darken and finally to cease to shine to His glory.

Loins Girded: Consider some thoughts in relation to different translations on these two words. Girded – “tighten your belts.” There will certainly be some weights to lift while we await our Lords’ return. Paul wrote, “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” – Gal. 6:12. “Dress for travel” – Ex. 12:11. The children of Israel were to partake of the Passover Lamb in readiness to leave Egyptian bondage, with their “loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand” ready to go. Another translation reads, “ready for action,” erect and alert. Our Apostle warns us in view of darkness of the end of this Age, to “put on the armor of light” – Rom. 13:11-14.

We stand, having our loins girt about with the truth, Eph. 6:14. Fighting the good fight requires that our faith be strengthened and sustained by the Word of truth. The Word of truth girds up the loins of our minds (I Pet. 1:13) as we by faith put on the helmet of salvation. Eph. 6:17 with II Cor. 10:4-5. Having our loins girt about with truth we are empowered to put to practical use our weapons that are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. We gird up, by bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

Let the same mind (attitude of heart) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” – Phil. 2:5. It took Him all the way to the cross but also place Him upon a throne.

We are dumb like sheep, in that we are so prone to wander off into danger, in thought first, and then in deed, out of harmony and out of fellowship with God.

“And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” – Rom. 12:2. We don’t have much strength for radiating the Christ life light if we are conforming to the world. We, being so marvelously empowered with this Christ life treasure, are to yield, so as to allow His life to be manifest in our mortal bodies. This is what it means to shine as lights, II Cor. 4:6-11.

As we meditate upon God’s Word, He will elevate our thinking, and thus sustain us, strengthening us inwardly by divine illumination. PRAISE GOD! Eph. 3:16-21 with Col. 1:11.