Buy Gold Now!
“Buy gold, now!” the financial advisor said. “It's the only thing of real value when the country is so deeply in debt. We expect the price of gold to reach $2,000 an ounce in the very near future.”
As a hushed audience listened eagerly to yet another money guru predict the future of the economy, they all nodded their heads like sheep. Everyone agreed, an impending monetary crisis could not be far off. The housing markets were soft, the job markets were weak and all the forecasts looked dim. Even Christians were counseled about the wisdom of investing in gold for the tough times ahead.
Christ, Himself, said, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire so that you may be rich.” But where is this gold?
This instruction was written to the church of Laodicea, a church very rich materially yet very poor spiritually and was very similar to the parable of the ten virgins. The five virgins who lacking enough oil were told to go purchase more oil. In Laodicea, Christ stood outside the door waiting to be invited in. However, the five virgins found themselves outside the door trying to get in. The oil for their lamps could not be replenished until it was too late and like many Laodiceans who fail to buy the purified gold, entrance is a time limited offer from God.
This gold, like the oil, is the precious Spirit of God given upon repentance of sin, baptism in the death and resurrected life of Jesus Christ and the laying on of hands by a minister of God. Once received, the human spirit works with the Holy Spirit as we grow into the full nature of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit can be renewed and replenished as it is used to help us overcome and grow in the fruits of the Spirit, to create a new being full of Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, self-control, meekness and most importantly love. Without love for God and neighbor, the door of our heart is forever closed and there can be no entry into the wedding feast with Jesus Christ.
Simon Magus tried to buy the Holy Spirit but his heart was full of bitterness and unrighteousness. The Holy Spirit is cannot be bought with money but we may buy the gold from God with our faith and devotion to Him. Our oil may run out, if we neglect, quench or grieve the Holy Spirit given to us. We must want God's Spirit of Truth in us, working, guiding and helping us.
When the Antichrist comes to Jerusalem, the whole world will be deceived and believe he is the Christ. Islam will think he is Jesus sent by Allah to fight against evil. Jews will believe the miraculous signs and wonders and think he is the Messiah. Christians will welcome him as their savior. Even the very elect might be deceived except for those who have their lamps trimmed by the Word of God and a full supply of the oil of His Holy Spirit. The deception will be so well orchestrated, so complete and so great that even you and I might believe it.
Buy gold now, but beware it is not fool's gold or the gold of fools.
