“Instant
Gratification!”
“But if we hope for
what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25 Paul certainly didn’t write this in
2012; or anytime in our recent past for
that matter. We can pretty much get what
we want when we want it, and we can generally receive it very quickly. Last week, one of my children wanted something
from a local store. I said we could go
to the store the next time we were out to look at the item. This child of mine decided it would be wise
to look the item up from that local store online. WOW, a deal of 15% off with no shipping
costs. What could be better,
right!! Then I believe the thinking went
like this: OK, dad already said he would take me to the store, but he didn’t say I
couldn’t place an online order. He’s not
real wild about that stuff --- Mom just
got home. She doesn’t know about the
conversation with dad. Mom likes good
deals shopping while dad could care less.
I think mom will let me place the online order. Here I go:
Ask, a little convincing, reminder that mom wouldn’t have to find time
to take me to the store…BINGO! I got the
green light to order. Mom loves me so much! A few clicks later, and the items was
ordered. My child felt a real sense of
ownership even though the item hadn’t arrived.
We had to deal with the less than stellar communication in this
situation, but we also had to help our child understand about patience and
waiting in life. Well, it sure helped
drive that lesson home when the order our child placed was WAY too big. It wouldn’t fit me or any other person I
know. I don’t think that would have happened
had we just gone to the local store!!
As a parent, I was reminded of the constant desire to have
things now. Not just my kids’ instant
gratification desires, but I was reminded of my own. I also considered the reality that our
salvation as Christians is kind of like an online order. It is ours.
We own it. It just hasn’t arrived
yet. That’s what Paul was talking about
in Romans 8:25. We hope for life with
Jesus in heaven, but it isn’t here yet since we are alive on earth. We own it as Christians, but it hasn’t
arrived yet!
Family Discussion Points!
Discuss why waiting is so hard! Ask yourself:
Am I good at waiting?
Share stories of having to wait for something you really
wanted.
Discuss waiting for life in heaven and what we should be
doing now on earth.
