Trading Eternity for Modern Day Pottage

When reading Genesis 25 one is introduced to Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:25-26). Esau, the hunter of the family (Genesis 25:28) returned home to find his brother making pottage or “lentil soup” (Genesis 25:29). “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.” (Genesis 25:30). In fact, Esau would state that his hunger was to the point where, “I am at the point to die…” (Genesis 25:32). Why would Esau state such a thing? That was his response to a statement made by Jacob. Jacob was willing to part with the pottage for a price. “Sell me this day thy birthright” (Genesis 25:31). At this point, Esau was willing to part ways with his birthright because he would soon “die” from hunger. His birthright would be worth nothing if he were dead. Esau parted ways with his birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:33-34; Hebrews 12:16). What blessings come with the birthright? At the death of Isaac Esau would have received a double portion of the inheritance, he would have been the one to offer sacrifices for the family, he would be of high rank in the family, and in this instance he would have been the one to carry the name of Abraham and the promises given to him. He lost all of that for soup. In the end, was it worth trading his birthright for something that turned out to be as insignificant as soup?

What about today? Can someone trade eternity for modern day pottage? Yes, one can trade eternity for things that are insignificant by comparison. Christ once asked the question, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:37). Look at what is gained and lost. A man has the ability to gain the world and all it has to offer. Fame, fortune, and a multitude of earthly benefits are at his fingertips. In the process of gaining all of these things, that same man will lose his own soul. When you compare the two it is like giving up your birthright in exchange for soup. Yet, some will choose material possessions over the gifts of God. What is the end result of such a choice? The rich fool had treasures of this earth built for himself and lost his soul (Luke 12:20). Furthermore, God asked this rich fool a very important question. To whom will these items belong after you are dead? What will a man leave behind after death? Everything he ever earned. In the end, is it worth losing your soul over something that will inevitably be insignificant?

Consider the response of Esau when he realized that he had truly lost his birthright and his blessing (Genesis 27:34-38; Hebrews 12:16-17). In multiple parables Christ gave the end result of those who trade their eternal blessings for something insignificant. He said there would be ”weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13, 24:51, 25:30). In the end is it worth it? It certainly was not to Esau. Do not trade your eternal blessings for modern day soup.

Where Am "I"

Where Am “I”?

Where am “I”? It is not a question of my physical location. Depending on when you read this, I will be in a different location. If you read this on Sunday after the morning services, I will be in Memphis, TN with Larry and the other students who are ready to graduate. [Note: This was written June 2009 - AC) If you read this on Wednesday, chances are I will be in or near the building getting ready for services. This is not javascript:void(0)a question of my physical location but rather a broader question we should all ask ourselves? There are multiple places that “I” can be spiritually.

Am “I” in the caught up in prIde? If the answer is yes, one must ask why. Nothing good can come when “I” am caught up in prIde. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). When reading the book of Esther, one can see it is what led Haman to the gallows built for Mordecai. It is this frame of mind which Christ was preaching against when speaking of the motives behind prayer, giving, and fasting (Matthew 6:1-23). Christ stated that these men would get a reward of being seen of men but there was no reward other than that. God resists the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Hopefully none of us can say, “I am found in prIde.”

Am I stuck in the middle of sIn? Again, if the answer is yes, it is important that one get out of sin as soon as possible. Nothing good can come from being in sIn. Why? “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). Those who are in sIn are not of God but of Satan (1 John 3:8). The punishment given to those who are in sIn is a terrible one (Revelation 21:8). Am I in sIn?

Or am I in ChrIst? There is no better place to be in all the world than the body of Christ. All spiritual blessings are found in Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). ALL spiritual blessing are found within Christ. Only those who are in Christ can be saved in the end. “…even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first…” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Obviously, you cannot be in Christ if you are in prIde or sIn. Want to get out of sin and pride and into Christ? One must be baptized into Christ. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3).

Are you in prIde? Are you in sIn? Get out. Both lead to destruction for all eternity. Are you in Christ? If not, make the decision to do so before it is eternally too late.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Respect is something all men want, but not something that all men are ready to give. The phrase, “Respect is earned and not given” seems to be used in reference to physical things but never for spiritual things. If there is one being in this universe that deserves our respect, that One is God. He created everything (Genesis 1-3). He created man in His image (Genesis 1:26-28). He made it possible for man to get to Heaven (Revelation 22:14). God has done more than is needed to earn the respect of His creation. Sadly, none is shown. Man refuses to give the proper respect to God in a number of ways. When man refuses to glorify God for all God has done, man shows a lack of respect. God warned Gideon that due to the size of the Israelite army each would say that, “…Mine own hand hath saved me…” (Judges 7:2). These individuals would glorify self over God, in the process showing no respect for their Father. Man shows disrespect for God by changing God’s Word to fit the doctrines of men. Despite the warnings given by the God in Heaven men are constantly adding and taking away from God’s Word (Proverbs 30:5; Revelation 22:18-19). Respect is taken from God and His breathed Word (2 Timothy 3:16) when this is done.

Though man would disrespect God, we can give Him the proper respect He deserves in a number of ways. Each of these can be performed in our everyday lives. Look at the examples given by Josiah and the Israelites in 2 Kings 22. We can honor God with our conduct. Hilkiah, the high priest, found the book of the law (2 Kings 22:8). He called the people together, read the law, and made a covenant that he and the people would “…walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes with all their heart and their soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book…” (2 Kings 23:1-3). In order to love God one must keep His commandments (John 14:15). It also shows that he or she respects God enough to do as He has commanded. Furthermore, the action of the Israelites during the reading and covenant are excellent examples of how respect can be given to God. “…And all the people stood to the covenant” (2 Kings 23:3). The people who heard this message stood in attention to the reading of the law. This does not mean the congregation remained standing throughout the entire service but there is an attitude to be emulated. The attention of the people was set on God and His Word. Too often, Christians allow outside influences to hinder the true reason saints weekly gather together. It could be personal problems, national crisis, or even a friend texting via cell phone. Instead of praising God as a Christian ought, more time is given to these outside sources. In doing so, we show no respect for God. Remember everything God has done for mankind. May we all let this knowledge lead us to have the proper respect to our God.

Do Not Look Back

In Greek mythology, one of the more famous stories is that of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus, a famed musician, lamented the loss of his wife Eurydice. His song was so mournful that the Greek gods advised Orpheus to travel to the underworld. He does so, hoping that he will be able to retrieve his lost love. The song he plays while traveling though the underworld is so beautiful that he was able to charm the three-headed dog named Cerberus, which guarded the entrance to the underworld. His song was even able to cause Persephone and Hades, the rulers of the underworld to weep. This was something that had never been accomplished before and according to the myth, was never accomplished again. They allowed Orpheus to take his wife back to the human world on one condition; Orpheus was to walk ahead of his wife and could not look back until he and his wife had exited the underworld. Orpheus rejoiced knowing that the love he once lost would finally be at his side again. As they traveled, he listened with the hopes that he could hear her footsteps. He was unaware that those who resided in the spirit world made no sound as they walked. As they traveled, Orpheus began to doubt. He began fearing that his Eurydice may have somehow lost sight of her husband and was wandering through the underworld looking for him. Finally, as they neared the entrance to the human world Orpheus looked back, fearing the worst. He saw as his wife was ripped from his presence back into the underworld. Orpheus never saw his wife again. He was mere steps from his goal and lost that which was most dear for all eternity.

Do not look back. This was the key message when Christ stated: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). He spoke these words in dealing with three men. The first claimed that he would follow Christ wherever He traveled (Luke 9:57). Christ responded: And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head (Luke 9:58). Christ let this man know that if one were to follow Him, the path would not be an easy one. Although the animals of the field had homes to which they could go at night, the followers of Christ would not have it as easy. He turned to another individual and said, “Follow me.” This second individual gave the excuse that he first wanted to bury his father (Luke 9:59). To this remark Christ stated that this man should “let the dead bury the dead” and that this man should go and preach of the kingdom that came in Acts 2 (Luke 9:60). There was nothing this man could do for his father as his father was physically dead, yet there were those who were dead spiritually who needed the message of the coming kingdom. Again, Christ looked to another man and said “Follow me.” This third man responded with an inquiry. He would follow Christ, but asked that he be allowed to first say goodbye to his family (Luke 9:61). Christ’s response to this statement can be summed up in four words. “Do not look back.” Those words should ring loud and clear to any listener. A child of God should not look back at the life he or she once lived. In the instance of this man, had he taken the time to say goodbye to his family, there is no promise that he would have come back. There is a possibility that the family could have swayed their relative from following the Lord. If we look back at the way things were, there is a chance that we may go and never return to following Christ. This is especially true when a Christian is facing trouble in some form or fashion. One look back and the temptation to return to the old way of life may be too great. Like Orpheus, one might look back and lose that which is most dear to him or her for all eternity. For the Christian, that is the rest that is promised to us in Heaven. In speaking to these men, Christ did three things. First, He stated that His followers would not walk an easy path. Second, there was a greater need in walking that path and showing it to others. Finally, He stated that one must not look back. May we never look back, but instead continue steadfast and focused on Christ.