Though I wrote this years ago, I revisited it. I pondered the message both for myself and the Church today.
There was a time when I would circle around the parking lot of a grocery store multiple times, just so I could park as close to the door as possible. What good charismatic hasn’t claimed the best parking space “in the Name of Jesus!” Then, I would get a cart full of groceries, unload them into my car, and leave the cart wherever I could squeeze it.
Over time, stores installed cart return areas. I am one of the people who pushes my cart to the return stall. By doing that, it doesn’t hit someone’s vehicle, doesn’t block a parking spot and makes it much easier for employees to gather the carts. As a result, I rarely park close to the store. Why? The cart returns are never close to the store. I want to be in the best place to return the cart. I am more concerned about the end of my journey than the beginning of the journey.
There is a man in scripture by the name of Esau. His story is found in Genesis 25. Esau is a man who shows us that spiritual blessings can be lost by living for the moment, and he did it all for bowl of stew! Take time to read the story.
Life is full of choices. Every one of us will be offered the opportunity to live for the moment or to live for eternity. It may be an occasion to cheat on your spouse or to make a lot of money in a wicked way. It may be an opportunity to indulge fleshly desires or to become popular in an ungodly manner, or to compromise the truth of scripture. Esau made the foolish decision to take the immediate “payoff” of what he could see, touch, taste, and smell over much greater blessings in the future. Many people still do that today. Their whole lives are focused on what they can get now, and they end up missing the blessings of tomorrow.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfareand not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
God does indeed have wonderful plans for His children but be careful about parking in a place because it feels good right now. How will it feel at the end of the journey? I do not want to look back in regret of what could have been, should have been or would have been, if only I had made decisions based on the will of God, instead of a bowl of stew or an easy parking place.
Spiritual blessings can be lost by living for the moment.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33