My husband recently broke his arm. The doctor set the bone and put his arm in a cast. Now, he is inconvenienced by the orthopedic restraint that hinders movement, places hardships upon daily routines, and limits the kinds of clothing he can wear. I remind him that today’s temporary discomfort is much better than an untended break that would yield tomorrow’s permanent deformity.
Who of us has not been forced to live with a hard circumstance in the present in order to avoid an even more difficult condition in the future? Just ask someone who has undergone surgery on the road to health or inquire of one whose job has forced relocation as the pathway to financial security. Drastic measures must, at certain seasons, be taken to secure a future.
If we avoid the current hard process, we may not like the future repercussions. If we live in denial of the immediate cost, we may find that we will forfeit the very health or happiness that our denial sought to secure. Tomorrow’s blessing is often secured by today’s sacrifice. But if we believe that the stakes are too high and the consequences too grave to sacrifice today, we will substitute today’s provisional reward instead of securing tomorrow’s enduring success. Such a belief defies sanity. To swindle our tomorrow for our comfort today is equivalent to a death wish.
Nations also seek to delay consequences, as leaders do not want the hard readjustments to come down on their tenure. Those with a philosophy of “Not on my watch!” are willing to roll the tough times over upon the next generation. Denial has consequences. It catches up.
The Bible tells the story of a king named Hezekiah who had been miraculously healed by God from a life-threatening disease and given an additional fifteen years. God granted him a future, but he failed to secure a future for his nation. After entertaining foreign dignitaries who were national enemies, Hezekiah was informed by the prophet Isaiah that the next generation would be conquered and led into captivity by the nation with whom Hezekiah had leagued. His response? “At least there will be peace and security during the remainder of my own lifetime!” Modern day translation: “At least it won’t happen on my watch!” He could have petitioned God, repented, changed things. Why should Hezekiah not think God would be equally merciful to the nation as God had been to him? Perhaps Hezekiah believed that delayed destruction was better than immediate discipline.
Principle – A people’s group or a nation’s transcendent values define their character, culture, and things they are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve them.
For more information on the author, Dr. Patti Amsden, go to: www.pattiamsden.org
Joel Petersen
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I'm a little confused The gist of this article seems to me to be about getting myself blessed. Healthy, wealthy, and financially secure till my last day on earth. Is this the typical "it's all about me " Christianity? About the nations, there is no sacrifices or adjustments that's going to " fix" us. The nations have to be "discipled" in the Ways of the LORD to become prosperous to " Create Long-Term Prosperity for the Largest Number of People." I'll mull this over for awhile and repost in a few days. |
Steve Russell
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In Order to Truly Live We Must Die to Self . In order to embrace the new paradigm the old must pass away. A radically different definition of success is what's needed. Jesus seemed to be hinting at this reality when He made staements like: "There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his lif for his friends". It is by giving that we receive, by adversity that we grow. Not worldly wisdom, but kingdom truth. These are transcendant values. What would this look like on a national or global scale? Love and forgiveness are our offensive weapons of spiritual warfare. |
Joel Petersen
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Acts 17: 26-28 Scripture says God tells His prophets what He's going to do on the Earth. From the signs of the times, it looks like we are in for a rough ride for many years. Check this out... http://www.streamsministries.com DVD The Perfect Storm The Lord said He'd provide for those who seek first the Kingdom of God. Interesting would be an indepth definition of the word " seek " in this context. In this time in history, it's our " Ballgame." We [ Kingdom Ministries : SCS, American Vision, Chalcedon, and the dozens of others ] aren't going to advance very far in the "Tournament " if we don't come together and start playing as a team. |
Joel Petersen
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It might start getting interesting Over on http://www.americanvision.org/...portal.php , there's a thread called "Changing America Without Politicians". It's getting interesting as the "unity' challenge is starting to raise her head up. |
Morgan Prospek
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The Future Belongs to Those Willing to Sacrifice I believe that the future belongs to those who are prepared for it. Sometimes, preparation requires sacrifice and hard work. In my Current World Affairs class, we are learning about Margaret Thatcher, a Prime Minister of the 20th century, who led Britain through one of their greatest times of economic and social despair. She said, "Disciplining yourself to do what you know is right and important, although difficult, is the highroad to pride, self-esteem, and personal satisfaction. “Later, in this same speech, she mentioned that hard work is the key to success. Hard work requires sacrificing your time, energy, and sometimes your comfort. I think that more than an "all about me" Christianity, this article clearly defines that if someone upholds high standards that they wish to abide by or if they desire to be successful, they must understand that preparation, sacrifice, and hard work are necessary. |
