Oil is Earned

There is much debate in the Christian world about salvation and the mechanics of the atonement in it. That statement sounds so void of grace it is hard to type. Mechanics of something as far reaching as the atonement can even seem silly to discuss when I know I comprehend so little of it. My mind is a Child in its understand of such a subject yet I dare to bring this debate up to make one statement about what I know and can't deny. Salvation is not in and of itself earned. There is nothing that you or I can do to save ourselves. Christ, the bridegroom, given to us by our Heavenly Father is the only way. It is the oil that we earn. The oil to enter the wedding chamber when the Bridegroom arrives. Oil, what is the oil then and how do we earn such an entrance fee? Trial that are more precious then gold 1 Peter 1:7 is the answer for me. Trials are not the oil itself. It is in the trial of our faith that the oil is expressed from. A living breathing olive press called mortality. I think it is interesting that the word "trial" switching the the order of i and a it spells "trail". Many of you may feel as I do that my trail is a daily trial of my faith. This is good though. The pressure may be intense at times. We are being refined by it and this is when we are earning through enduring the olive press. Gracefully enduring has been my lesson in recent years. Full of Grace= Gracefully! This is where the drops of oil form. Sometimes they may feel or even be drops of blood but our blood would have never been enough, so as we combine our blood with the Saviors through his grace. our sweat and tears turn to oil one drop at a time. oil that can never burn out for eternity. What a glorious gift life's challenges are. A sacred gift in and of themselves to learn how to apply the atonement in times when there has been no sin committed by us alone. This is salvation in every day and every moment. For today IS already a day in our eternity. Rejoice in your affliction this day and help others do the same...gracefully!