Gas prices at the pumps … elevated
Pinch felt by consumers … extraordinary
However, this is not what came to mind as I thought about the cost of oil.
Thinking about this journey with my LORD …
I have come to the conclusion that this is not for the faint-hearted. In fact, anyone that states that Christianity is for the weak is sorely misguided. No, it is definitely not an easy journey.
‘… wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ Matthew 7:13-14
Narrow is the road that leads to life … and only a few find it. Fewer still are those who are willing to pay the price to travel that road. There is a cost – a substantial one – which requires the anointing of God Almighty.
This is not an anointing that comes with a slathering of anointing oil. However, we gain some valuable insight by looking at some of the key ingredients in anointing oil. Why? There is spiritual truth in this natural product and the processes required for its development:
Olive Oil – this delicate oil, commonly called ‘liquid gold’, is extracted when olives are grinded to a pulp and then pressed. It is an arduous process which produces valuable oil. It is a key ingredient in anointing oil.
Myrrh – is a dried gum resin. According to online resource Wikipedia, ‘it is produced by the tree as a reaction to a purposeful wound through the bark and into the sapwood.' The term is derived from an Aramaic word which means ‘bitter’, which represents part of its bitter but pleasant smell.
Frankincense – is also a gum resin. Similar to the process for extracting myrrh, it is derived from slitting the bark of a tree and allowing the gum resin to flow. Once hardened, it is scraped, gathered and pressed to extract the sweet smelling fragrance.
Sweet Cinnamon – obtained through a process called coppicing where ‘young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level. In subsequent growth years, many new shoots will emerge and will be harvested [Wikipedia].’ Then the harvested branches are processed by scraping off the outer bark and beating the branch evenly with a hammer to loosen the inner bark. It produces essential oils which are intensely sweet.
Like physical anointing oil, spiritual anointing is made up of many components and produces a valuable, sweet smelling product. Similar to the olives used to make the key ingredient for anointing oil, there are individuals who have been plucked, and scrubbed and crushed and pressed. And these that will endure the process realize that all of their experiences [positive and negative] become part of the oil that fuels their journey.
Like myrrh, there will be bitter circumstances of life which are marked by intensity and severity. There are wounds which have been inflicted: mental abuse as a child, domestic abuse as an adult, being misunderstood and ostracized, suffering bouts of poverty and illness, the death of dreams and loss of loved ones. Each one could inflict damage which would be difficult to overcome. Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s amazing grace, each wound becomes a purposeful component in the fragrance that your life carries. These things are not all made good, but He works all these things together for the good (Rom. 8:28). The key is to allow the ‘bitter experiences’ to work for you and not let them define you.
Similar to the process for gathering myrrh, frankincense is drawn out by slitting the bark of the tree. However, unlike myrrh, the result is not a bitter product, but a sweet smelling fragrance. There is still a cutting that takes place, a hardening, scraping, gathering and pressing – yet it is the sweetest product which is delivered through a very exacting process. Galatians 5:22-24 tells us, ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control … and those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.’ Crucifixion is painful. The body of Christ was slit open to bring sweet salvation to a sinful world. Likewise, those who call themselves Christians will not escape the process of dying – yet we understand that it is to bring forth a sweet harvest of the fruits of the Spirit.
Lastly, we have the cinnamon. ‘Young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level.’ Anyone out there feeling like they have been cut down to the ground? It can be a painful process. Yet we must understand that every productive tree is pruned or cut upon so that it will be more productive and fruitful. Our lives are no different. Jesus said in John 15:1-2, ‘I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.’ And He know the precise amount of cutting, beating and hammering necessary to allow your life to ooze forth everything that God deposited in you.
The end result is a product unmatched by the best anointing oil. Once the processes have been endured, the Holy Spirit has done His work and the fullness of time is reached, the life of the believer who is willing to pay the price is transformed into the very likeness of Christ Jesus. And we who have submitted to God's working, proclaim with Christ:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion [literally, a parched place],
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:1-4
Oil costs …
Are you willing to pay the price?
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