Oh how we live in a generation that does that which is right in their own eyes! They are blind and they are deaf  - by choice, to the ways and the words of the Lord. They refuse to turn that He might heal them  - of their blindness and deafness. They choose flesh over His Spirit   - they choose death over life. They cling to the old  - though the old ways were never of Him  (some were, but most weren't)  "The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which brings forth out of his treasure things NEW and old". 

So we see, not all that is old is bad and not all that is new is good  -  to discern what is good and what is evil, we need to follow closely in the footsteps of Jesus. His Word was not given for to study  - His Word was given to us live: it is a living document   - by which we consume our daily spiritual manna, that it may sustain us in the wilderness of this wicked world till we arrive in our "promised land"  - eternity with God. We live by allowing His words to penetrate our hearts so deeply,  Christ Himself follows the trail they blaze in our hearts and takes up residence there. Then, we can "rightly divide the Word of God" because the God of The Word is our study partner, our teacher, and He shows us how to become "doers of the Word" and not hearers only. If we merely study the Word with our minds but do not digest it with our hearts  - we will never leave the Chrysalis  and become the saints we're meant to be. We're meant to soar! To fly  - far above the wickedness of this world. As Noah was borne above the wickedness of his generation   - so are we meant to rise above the wickedness of our generation   - only we rise on the wind of His Spirit   - and exactly as i wrote that last line, a song came on my playlist that said "Your love is lifting me higher, than I've ever been lifted before" (Rita Coolidge) Hallelujah! Oh how God is ministering to my heart at this moment! Oh how sweet His presence is! To be born up on the wind of His Spirit we must have wings, we must "learn to fly" as the Tom Petty song says. We do have wings  - "And i saw an Angel standing in the Sun; and he cried with a loud voice, SAYING TO ALL THE FOWLS THAT FLY IN THE MIDST OF HEAVEN (that's us!) come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of THE GREAT GOD!"

Oh what a feast that will be! But only those "soaring in the midst of heaven" are invited! Don't let the unwise virgins hold you back  - don't stay grounded because everyone else you know is  - don't let their lack of faith keep you from exercising your faith. Go, dear child, GO! Soar high  - higher than you've ever gone before! 

This song from 1977 (see those double 7's?) is a prophetic cry we should all sing to the Lord Today  - 

Your love keeps liftin' me higher

than I've ever been lifted before

So keep it up, quench my desire 

And I'll be at your side forever more 

Now once, i was down hearted,

disappointment was my closest friend

But You came, he soon departed

and he never showed his face again 

Oh I'm so glad I finally found You

You're that one in a million man (Jesus)

when You wrap Your lovin' arms around me

I can stand up and face the world again 

cause YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME HIGHER

THAN I'VE EVER BEEN LIFTED BEFORE

SO KEEP IT UP, QUENCH MY DESIRE 

AND I'LL BE AT YOUR SIDE JESUS FOREVERMORE!