Pressed Olives

“And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.” Exodus 27:20.

The lamps in the lampstand were to give light in Israel. In our time, it is the church that is to give the light of life to the people. There is much in our life that needs to be crushed before the oil comes forth—that which is soft, pliable, and good. This is what makes it easy to live this life.

The life is the light of men. No matter how deep the darkness is, it cannot quench the light of the godfearing. The cry will be heard at midnight, when the darkness is deepest. The only possibility you have of being seen by Jesus, is when your lamp is burning. We read about the wise virgins who took oil in their vessels together with their lamps. Matthew 25:4. The important thing for us to remember is that we must also have oil in our vessels.

All ten virgins had both lamps and vessels, but unfortunately, the vessels of the foolish virgins were empty. They had avoided the works in their lives that would have given them oil. It was too much of an effort to follow a doctrine that resulted in the flesh being cruci­fied. They never endured in the battle to enter in through the narrow gate. Luke 13:24. They did not persevere in prayer, and they were not always ready to do every good work—only when it was convenient. 1 Peter 3:15. Neither were they able to give thanks for all things, but they remained within their own human limitations. There was never enough crushing for the oil to flow into their vessels; there was only sufficient oil to keep the lamp burning, so everything was in order on the outside. Their lamps were burning when the sun shone and when the wind blew in their favor, but they were dark during the trials of night.

It never was dark for the five wise virgins, for they endured in every temptation. They laid hold of, and went through (not around), all the difficulties. They allowed themselves to be crushed—they hated their own lives so the oil was produced while it was day. This resulted in light and life.

The children of Israel were given a command to acquire pure oil for the lampstands. Whenever this command is not followed, it inevi­tably results in backsliding, apostasy, and harlotry. The angel of the church in Laodicea is a dreadful example—an illustration of a foolish virgin who thinks she has something. It is a terrible state to be in when God considers you empty and naked. This is the fate of all those who do not take God’s commands seriously. He who is wise digs deep until he is on the rock. Luke 6:48.

The Corinthians reigned as kings without Paul (1 Corinthians 4:8); and the angel of the church in Laodicea believed he was rich and thought he lacked nothing, although he was neither crushed nor humble. Revelation 3:17. The delusion of thinking one is something without being crushed and having died to self, had reached its ulti­mate peak in this angel.

There is no easy way to eternal glory. The Captain of our salva­tion also had to go the thorny way of humiliation. It pleased the Lord to crush Him (Isaiah 53:10), and for this reason He was highly ex­alted, receiving a name above all other names.

There is nothing that is crushed in our lives that we will not re­ceive again in the resurrection of the dead, according to what we have done in the body. 2 Corinthians 5:10.