“RELIGIOUS ENTITLEMENT”

An openly rebellious person isn’t fazed when their foolish acts are on open display for the whole world to see. They have become hardened, insensitive and indifferent over a period of time. They brag about their foolish ways and make a mockery of God. They amuse themselves in the spirit of rebellion and shortsightedness. They take no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing their opinion.

Everybody makes mistakes – that’s a given – but not everyone learns from them. Some people make the same mistakes over and over again, fail to make any real progress, blames everyone and the dog for their predicament… and remains unperturbed about their future plans.

Meanwhile, when the rebellious person find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place — they cry out to God in their misery expecting God to show up with a handful of goodies. Let’s call this “RELIGIOUS ENTITLEMENT”.

The Story of the Virgins

The Bible speaks of ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went to find their bridegroom. Five were foolish and five were smart. The foolish ones took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took bottles of oil to re-fill their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected, and they all fell asleep. In the middle of the night someone yelled out, “He’s here! The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him!”

They all got up and got their lamps ready. The foolish virgins said to the smart ones, “Our lamps went out, lend me some of your oil.” — “RELIGIOUS ENTITLEMENT”.

They answered, “There’s not enough to go around, go buy your own.” They did, but while they went out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’ ––“RELIGIOUS ENTITLEMENT”.

He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.”

My AHA MOMENT:

Some who claim to be good in their own eyes will be rejected by Jesus if they have not carried out the will of God. There will be no “RELIGIOUS ENTITLEMENT”.

Stay vigilant. Don’t become callous and hardhearted. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid.
Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of black magic, voodoo,witchcraft, or occult. Being stubborn is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says,
‘And if my people who are called by my name become humble and pray, and look for me, and turn away from their evil ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin and heal their land.’