We occasionally put food out for the squirrels in our yard, squirrels that are well accustomed to this fact, yet who still run for cover each time we do so.
“And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:40)
The rain that falls that produces the food we eat is not designated only for those who worship the Living God, the best fruits of this world from the Lord are not set aside for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, in fact, many times the opposite is true.
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2nd Tim. 2:12)
Everything on this planet is for all who will partake of it, such is the mercy and grace of our Father in heaven, the difference for us is that we are being taught that not all is profitable for us, that what we have we are to be content with, that the poor you will have always with you, and that He may decide to make us one of the poor, that should make no difference to us.
There is a small problem though with some who truly are born-again, not a salvational issue, but one of sanctification, of our growth in the knowledge and will of the Almighty.
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.” (Rev. 21:21)
The issue of the mentality, the mindset, if you will, that someday it will be better, one day we will walk in robes of white in a place of pleasures forevermore, amongst the brilliant splendor of the Kingdom of our Father, but in those thoughts, they begin to be unable to be content here. Instead of fulfilling Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” they spend their days here in frustration of their lot in life, unable to contemplate the truth of Proverbs 23:3.
“Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.”
These people believe they would become content, or at least experience more contentment, if they had more, more of the things of the world, but beyond even that, they desire more of what could be called Spirituality. They want to know more about God, not to glorify Him, but simply to know more.
Many theologians fall into this trap, knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge, many study the Scriptures, not for the sake of being taught to apply them for the glory of the Most High, but only for the head knowledge, in a sense, no different than comprehending a difficult mathematical equation.
If one of those squirrels had enough trust in us to come up on the steps and eat out of my hand, do you think I would feed him more?
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)
Far too many busy themselves with this life, searching for more, because they believe that will then make them content, and when that contentment continues to evade them, they imagine heaven, but their thoughts are not on the Lord Jesus Christ and being in the fulness of the presence of His joy, but on themselves and how it will all be better one day.
And my friends, if they do not realize these truths, that is where, at least in this regard, their sanctification will cease.
To not be content here is to deny the sufficiency of what the Lord has given to you, and until you can learn to be content with what you have, you will receive no more, for if you did, it would not make you content either.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)
When? Then or now?
Sanctification is both gaining and losing, it is looking forward while being content here. It is accepting all He offers, and praising His name when He removes something.
