While listening to talk radio today, I was struck by a caller to the Glenn Beck Show. Beating around the bush, this man ctonfessed to an addiction to pornography. During this struggle, one thought kept reverberating, “that which you gaze upon, you will become.”
One of Jesus’ 12 disciples recognized a similar pattern near the end of the first century, 1 John 2:15-17. Inside of each human being, a hunger exists, searching for objects of desire. Lusts, longings and pride can shift your focus from where it should be to behind the devil’s door, Ephesians 4:26-27. In other words, be careful what you wish for.
One of Jesus’ best words of wisdom in his Sermon on the Mount can be found in Matthew 6:19-24. The Lord knew before creation that which individuals gaze upon, they will become. The cure to prevent addictions is to begin to store up treasures on earth. The apostle Paul added to this in Colossians 3:1-4, urging readers to meditate on the Lord day and night. If bad habits have you staring in the wrong direction, fix your eyes on the author and perfecter of life, Hebrews 12:1-3.
Whether you’re a child busy day dreaming or an adult trying to crunch financial numbers, everyone has a desired destination. Some dreams may appear lofty, others middle of the road with a few unrealistic. Nonetheless, without vision, people perish, Hosea 4:6, dying inside without anything tangible to live for.
Israel longed for a promised land, African Americans envisioned a nation free from slavery and the poor seek a life without hunger. On the road to success, doubt, a lack of resources and time stand in the way. Depending upon the voices you hear, the people you surround yourself with and what you choose to believe, your destination may be altered, seeing but never reaching the Land of Oz.
The apostle Paul understood this concept, writing to the church in Philippi, Philippians 3:12-14. Pride didn’t get in the way of his goal. Despite his past ideology, Paul set his mind on heaven. While his life was cut short on earth, martyred for his belief in Christ, faith allowed this servant of God to reach his desired destination. May promises like Philippians 1:6 encourage you to never waiver until you arrive where you belong.
If you believe everything happens for a reason, then my first full time teaching position after college was a blessing in disguise. Tucked away in the Monongahela National Forest, I spent the Spring Semester of 1993 counseling, teaching and tutoring junior high students who were considered career underachievers. The learning never stopped, continuing through breakfast, lunch and dinner. My only true break was for 40 minutes, from 12:20-1:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Titled 20/20 Time, students and teachers spent 40 minutes in solitude either on a hillside, in the valley or along the banks of a stream. The goal of this exercise was to spend 20 minutes reflecting and 20 writing. To my amazement, I developed a love for journaling; eventually inspiring 12 songs that formed my first album, A Simple Confession.
For those of us who love food, eating is like a race to see who can devour a meal the fastest. Yet, for businessmen, savvy entrepreneurs and relational individuals, meals are maximized to get work done, explore new opportunities or develop permanent meaningful lasting relationships. Prior to the rise in youth sports, families spent 30-60 minutes a day at their kitchen table talking . Now, some households eat out breakfast, lunch and dinner, working meals around busy schedules. Although hunger is a natural part of the body, appetites can vary from delicacies to worldly obsessions. Realizing this truth, Jesus introduced a new concept for his listeners to digest, “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” Matthew 5:6.
The Psalms of the Bible illuminate how to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Beginning in Psalm 1:1-3, the author compares this type of individual with an evergreen, a tree that stays green throughout the year. Known as conifers, the key to this tree is its root system. When planted near a creek, river or stream, daily nutrients are widely available. The spiritual dimension to this analogy can be found in Joshua 1:8, where meditating on the Bible day and night results in a similar outcome. Therefore, if you want to maximize your own meals, start by consuming the Word of God before every breakfast, lunch and dinner. If this concept takes ahold of your heart, soul and mind, then will resemble the tree in Psalm 1. This leads me to the chorus from one of the first songs the Holy Spirit inspired me to write, Psalm 1.
“I want to be the tree, down by the river”
“I want to be the tree, down by the bank”
“I want to be the tree, that walks and talks like Jesus”
“Reaching out for nourishment by staying in God’s Word.”
Usually, humans are the ones who question God. Rants such as “how can a loving God allow my child to die or why do bad things happen to good people while the wicked continue to prosper” is par for the course. Yet, have you ever considered that God is scratching His head up in heaven daily, trying figure out the actions of his children? Disappointed by Israel, His chosen nation, one too many times, God finally had enough, saying “adios.”
According to Psalm 95:10, God’s patience wore thin. Expecting the parting of the Red Sea to transform hearts for a generation, the Lord’s miracles were quickly forgotten. Faithless acts, hungry stomachs and spoiled souls unleashed the wrath of God upon a generation, Psalm 95:11. Essentially, God vowed not to let this disobedient generation experience the promised land. Instead, the Jews wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, prevented from tasting a land filled with milk and honey.
This lesson is similar to the words of the prophet Isaiah 1:15-20. When followers become distracted by sin, God tunes out their prayers. Subsequently, the Lord is waiting for believers to humble themselves, admit their wrong doing and reason with Him in prayer. Then and only then will you experience God’s blessings, Isaiah 1:19. However, if anyone attempt to take a short cut, don’t be surprised if God says adios.
In the 1971, Carly Simon released Anticipation, featuring the song that inspired this album. Eight years later, Heinz Ketchup developed the slogan, “Anticipation is making me wait,” by mixing Carly Simon’s song with images of ketchup slowly flowing out of a bottle. During an interview on National Public Radio, also known as NPR, Carly Simon shared the meaning of Anticipation. While waiting for Cat Stevens to pick her up on their first date, the lyrics to this song were formed and the rest is history.
Although ketchup and God don’t have any thing in common, Heinz’ marketing campaign and Carly Simon’s song illustrate how the Lord works behind the scenes. God allows individuals to experience desperation, causing hearts to develop a sense of urgency. As one hungers for something more in life like the prodigal son in Luke 15:16-20, a recipe for restoration is generated. Thus, despite any anguish, brokenness and heartache people have to endure, the Lord uses desperation to lead hurting souls beside still waters, Psalm 23:1-6.
Everyone understands how painful waiting can be. Whether you’re at the hospital anticipating news from a doctor regarding life or death, impatiently waiting for God to answer your prayers or searching for clues to understand the trial you are currently undergoing, each scenario breeds desperation. Like Nicodemus, seeking out Jesus at night in John 3:1, sometimes you have to humble yourself, realize you’re not in control and kneel before God, Luke 7:37-38. May any lukewarm spirit holding you down be expelled as God uses desperation as a recipe for restoration.
If I had to take an honest assessment of my goals in life and compare this with how I actually spend my time, my actions display a lack of hunger to make my American Dream a reality. While playing on a Florida mini-tour in 1995, I met several individuals who were willing to risk everything, sacrificing food, shelter and wants to one day make the P.G.A. Tour. Clearly, they wanted it more than me as some ate peanut butter and jelly 3 times a day, 7 days a week, a few lived in their cars and many more worked the night shift so they could play in golf tournaments during the day. In essence, I’m the only one to blame for not fulfilling this desire of my heart.
Nearly 20 years later, I not willing to let another dream slip through my hands. Back in the late 90’s, I had a 45 minute phone conversation with Max Lucado’s editor, set up by a mutual friend who owned a Christian Bookstore. At the time, I was a freelance writer trying to break through, asking as many questions as possible without being rude. Two of his statements serve as a glimmer of hope for this amateur author: “If you want to get noticed, the average professional writes full time for 7 years before getting paid or if you can only afford to do this part time, you must be willing to invest 15 years of your life.” Over the past 3 years, I am in the process of paying my dues, with over 700 daily articles, 1 complete 90 minute movie script and currently a third of the way through my first book called Behind the Devil’s Door. Though I could probably devote more time to writing each week, this time around the block I want it more than ever.
In Psalm 27:4, King David asks a similar question, but from a spiritual perspective: “How badly do you want to spend time with God?” Are you happy with your current relationship or are holding back, not ready to commit fully to the Lord? Based upon verses 1-3, if you are afraid, faithless or weak, you’re likely missing essential pieces. What’s holding you back, keeping you from experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit daily? Perhaps you don’t want God as bad as He longs to be with you, Luke 15:20. May the words of Matthew 6:33-34 provide the assurance you need to re-prioritize your life as soon as possible. While every human feels the pain of unfulfilled dreams, I pray that gazing upon the beauty of the Lord will transform your perspective on life. Your actions in the days that follow will answer the question, how bad do you really want it?
For most of my life, I have watched from the sidelines as others have made history. While highly motivated individuals were busy making an impact in their sphere of influence, I was too busy, tired or afraid to risk it all. Thus, instead of being part of history, I viewed it from the comfort of my own home. As I drove home this evening from work, today’s title rose to the surface: You only get one shot at making history today.
In my final preparations to preach for the second time in a month at Overflow Church in Newark, tomorrow is a chance to shine, my shot at making history. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will lead me to say something powerful. Or maybe my imagination and teaching style might bring people back to the days of Jesus, striking a cord with a heart or soul. Either way, I want to make the most of this rare opportunity to cast a vision for 2014 as I reflect upon the song “Everything I Missed Before,” by Britt Nicole.
In my youth, sports was the only area that I could live my mark. During adolescence, I tried to help others as a youth director, giving counsel to avoid teens from making the same mistakes I did when I was their age. As an adult, I’ve spent the last decade as a Bible Teacher, mixing truths from the Bible was doses of reality. Currently, God is calling me to reach others through writing this blog, edit a movie I wrote and complete a 3 part book series on compromise and temptation. May something in today’s lesson spark a hunger inside your heart to remember you only get one shot at making a positive mark on history today.
In the 2012 movie sensation, The Hunger Games features an annual made for television competition for 24 contestants ranging from 12-18 years of age. If chosen, a boy and girl represent one of 12 districts in the nation of Panem. These select few are taken to the Capitol for training before taking part in this fight to the death event, with only one survivor. Set in a futuristic North America, the Hunger Games serve as punishment for a previous rebellion and to control future attempts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY
In the spiritual world, there is a similar game, To Obey or Not to Obey. Many individuals suffer from a grass is greener on the other side disillusion. Not satisfied with their own gifts, life and talents, people hunger for a new identity, hoping the emptiness inside their hearts goes away. Subsequently, a growing number of participants wander down the highway to hell, Matthew 7:13, unaware of the destruction awaiting each soul.
Over the past few months, my hunger for writing has eased up, resulting in a lower audience at Express Yourself 4Him and fewer readers. This loss of appetite correlates with a decreasing time of reflecting on the Bible. Whenever I partake in a full course meal of Bible study, prayer and worship, my hunger pains for the world subsides. Yet, the more I neglect my spiritual condition, these desires for the world multiple. Therefore, be careful what you wish for or you might find your heart on the wrong side of the fence, Matthew 6:21-23.
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