Convenience Store
It is a hot summer day, and this morning I have one thought on my mind: Chocolate Eclairs. I absolutely LOVE chocolate eclair ice cream bars. I love the crunchy crisps on the outside and the vanilla ice cream coating around the creamy chocolate center. It is the perfect balance between chocolate and vanilla and crunch. As I climb into the car and turn the key, I notice, this car is low on gas—how perfect is that?
I make it to the gas station. As the pump is filling up my gas, the tank is happy, but my sweet tooth is not. So, though it is only 11:00 am, I decide to head into the convenience store. As I look around, my eyes fall on the very thing that I am looking for. The Good Humor ice cream case. The longer I look, the expression on my face—most likely disappointment—reflects clearly what I have seen. There aren’t any chocolate eclair ice cream bars.
The man behind the counter kindly asks me, “What are you looking for?” So, I tell him. “Well, I was looking for a chocolate eclair bar, but I don't think you have any today.”
He replied, “We have other kinds of ice cream. There are lots of other good bars. Try another, you may like it.”
As I looked at him, he said it again, “Try another ice cream, you may change your mind.”
I didn’t say “no” immediately. I glanced back at the case and looked again. Pondering the options, I counted the cost. Would I spend what I had on something other than a chocolate eclair bar? NO. And so, confident that I would only give everything that I had in my pocket for the chocolate eclair ice cream bar, and that I was not interested in “trying another”, I replied, “No, thank you,” and walked out the door.
What convenience store are you shopping in? What are you looking for? What is it that your heart is desiring? Do you even realize you are in need? If you note the need, do you know who is going to fill it? I hope you are looking for Jesus with the same passion and the same intensity that I was looking for that Chocolate Eclair. I hope you feel that same ‘need’ for Him. I hope that you have it set in your heart and mind and that you KNOW without a shadow of a doubt Who is the only one that can satisfy your heart’s desire, save you from your sins, and bring you into a right relationship with the King. He is the only one we should serve. He is the only one that will meet ALL of your needs. He will satisfy in all and every way!
When we walk into the convenience store of life, knowing we are looking for Jesus, we are often offered other things. Are you being asked to try something different? Offered something more convenient that you can have NOW? Offered something more flashy or fancy? Something more like a chocolate chip ice-cream cookie or a strawberry shortcake? When you don't see what you are looking for as quickly as you want, are you shown all the other options and encouraged to take a bite of each? Perhaps these will “taste better” and at least you can get them now! No waiting. Perhaps eventually you will grow to desire them more than what you sought to begin with.
And can I just ask you, are you going to spend all that you have on these maybes or these empty, tasteless choices?
Why would you give your heart over to those other things? Count the cost, my friend. Is it really worth it to worship any other king, any other savior than the one who is offering a free gift of eternal life? Is it really worth it to serve another?
I hope you say no. I hope you don't even for a second look back into the case and glance at the other options. But if you do…if you look back into the case, peeking and double-checking that there is nothing else, I hope you see all those things for what they really are: empty choices that will not and cannot replace Jesus.
As I walked out the door of the convenience store and said “no,” I said “no” to trying other options. I said “no” to what is convenient. And I said “no” to satisfaction with anything other than what I was really looking for. I said ”no” so that I could say “yes” to the chocolate eclair. Are we saying “yes” to what is truly worth it? Do we realize that what we are saying yes to is beyond what we think we need? It is beyond what we desire, it is so much better and so much tastier than a chocolate eclair on a hot day. This is Jesus.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
–Philippians 4:19
What are you saying “yes” to today?
With much love for each and every one of you,
Meghan Heaton (Women’s Ministry Director)