Missing an Opportunity from God - Deuteronomy 1-2 and Mark 10:1-31
It is very serious to miss an opportunity from God. Many times there is not second chance. When we miss the window of opportunity to trust Him and to do His will, we have missed it. This is not to say that our lives are worthless after that, but it is to say that God holds us accountable for our lack of faith. We have to move on with our lives having missed God's perfect will. This is hard for some people to believe, but it is true.
A whole generation of Israelites died in the wilderness. They failed to trust God and to conquer the land of Canaan at His command and in His power. They listened to the 10 spies. They missed their opportunity to dwell in a land of milk and honey. They wandered 40 years in a dessert. When they had second thoughts, and they went to battle, they were defeated, because God was not with them. He told them that they had missed their chance, and now they would have to go the other way. He still took care of them in the wilderness, but they never received His provision, because of a lack of faith. Think about that as you read Deuteronomy 1 and 2. A journey that should have taken 11 days from Mount Horeb to the land of Canaan ended up taking 40 years. What a sad commentary, but it is true.
Then, consider Mark 10. A marriage is an opportunity form God. We need to see it as an opportunity to have a special relationship that lasts until death parts us. However, some people miss that opportunity. They choose to divorce. The bond is broken. Sometimes, there is a restoration of that marriage, but often, it is a missed opportunity. We can only look back and say, "What if?" The rich young ruler had an opportunity to receive Christ as Lord. He only called Him Good Teacher. He did not follow Christ and sell all. He left sorrowful. He missed his opportunity. Did He ever get another opportunity? The Bible does not record another meeting between him and Jesus. I hope He did have another chance, but all I know is that he missed the opportunity when it presented itself. I know that I have missed opportunities from God before. I don't ever want that to happen again. I don't want to come to the end of life and have regrets about what could have been, if I had only trusted the Lord in specific situations. I want to experience His perfect will for my life, and I hope you do, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 3-4 and Mark 10:32-52.
A whole generation of Israelites died in the wilderness. They failed to trust God and to conquer the land of Canaan at His command and in His power. They listened to the 10 spies. They missed their opportunity to dwell in a land of milk and honey. They wandered 40 years in a dessert. When they had second thoughts, and they went to battle, they were defeated, because God was not with them. He told them that they had missed their chance, and now they would have to go the other way. He still took care of them in the wilderness, but they never received His provision, because of a lack of faith. Think about that as you read Deuteronomy 1 and 2. A journey that should have taken 11 days from Mount Horeb to the land of Canaan ended up taking 40 years. What a sad commentary, but it is true.
Then, consider Mark 10. A marriage is an opportunity form God. We need to see it as an opportunity to have a special relationship that lasts until death parts us. However, some people miss that opportunity. They choose to divorce. The bond is broken. Sometimes, there is a restoration of that marriage, but often, it is a missed opportunity. We can only look back and say, "What if?" The rich young ruler had an opportunity to receive Christ as Lord. He only called Him Good Teacher. He did not follow Christ and sell all. He left sorrowful. He missed his opportunity. Did He ever get another opportunity? The Bible does not record another meeting between him and Jesus. I hope He did have another chance, but all I know is that he missed the opportunity when it presented itself. I know that I have missed opportunities from God before. I don't ever want that to happen again. I don't want to come to the end of life and have regrets about what could have been, if I had only trusted the Lord in specific situations. I want to experience His perfect will for my life, and I hope you do, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 3-4 and Mark 10:32-52.