I Have To Have
That
By
Camilla Smith
I am sure many
of you are
feeling the fog
in the brain
that Satan is
sending our way
recently. It is
simply
static. What is
it about clarity
and keeping
focused? I am
having so much
trouble lately,
keeping my eye
on the prize and
honing in on my
purpose as a
Christian and an
end-times
“watchman.”
Maybe it is
Satan.
Maybe it is
eBay.
Frankly, I think
they are one and
the same. But
lately, I am
finding myself
jumping right
back into the
world and
looking for
those little
comforts that
money can
afford.
Which brings me
to my next
I-Pod-while-walking
lesson.
All this walking
has helped me to
shed quite a few
pounds and
happily, lose a
few clothing
sizes. New
wardrobe you
say? Why of
course! How
about a few
handbags and
several pairs of
shoes to go with
that? Yes,
please. Okay,
but when is
enough,
enough? It is
enough now. I am
starting to feel
dazed and
delirious and I
am ready to get
off this little
whirlwind tour
down Cash and
Carry Lane.
So I will. With
God’s help, I
will get back to
that I-Pod and
pay attention to
the song that
seems to come on
more often than
any of them…“I’d
Rather Have
Jesus.” Oh, yes
it does, seems
like every
fourth
song. Subtle,
isn’t it?
“I’d rather have
Jesus than
silver or
gold. I’d rather
have Jesus than
riches untold.
I’d rather have
Jesus than
houses or land.
I’d rather be
led by His
nail-pierced
hand.”
George Beverly
Shea, bless his
dear heart, sure
knew what he was
writing when he
put that one on
paper.
We all have our
struggles with
worldly
desires. For me,
I am an
aesthetic type
of person. I
love to “feather
my nest” and
decorating my
home has been my
materialistic
money pit. But I
believe I have
finally grown
out of
that. However, just
when I thought I
was improving on
my spiritual
maturity, trying
to please
God, tweaking my
tithing, losing
my desire to buy
“treasures,” I
find that I need
to be
fashionable!
What? Now I know
that God has
been the sole
inspiration
behind my
getting fit and
healthy and I
give Him 100% of
the credit, but
did Satan have
to jump in there
behind the wheel
and practically
drive me to
Macy’s? So here
I am, slapping
myself on the
forehead (yes, I
can still
picture God
doing this and
shaking His
almighty head at
me), and
wondering what
the heck just
happened?
Anyway, I think
this is just a
diversion, just
a bump in the
road, because it
has been minor
and I have
caught myself
before anything
got rocky or
beyond my
control. But it
could have been
disastrous. Jumping
back into the
world, even for
a few brief
weeks, can lead
to certain
temptation and
subsequent
destruction, if
you don’t ask
God to help you
focus on
eternity.
For me, my
weakness is
pretty
things. Silly
things. Meaningless
things. Things. I
tell myself that
I still have to
live here until
Jesus comes for
us, and so I am
going to enjoy
my hard work a
little bit while
I am still
here. And that
is okay.
Control is
key. There is
nothing wrong
with a reward
for a job well
done.
But one has to
know when to
stop. And for
me, it is time
to
stop. Eternity
is calling.
Eternity is
forever. Eternity
is all that we
have my
friends─eternity
in heaven with
our Lord or
eternity in
hell─if we make
the wrong
decision and
turn our back on
God.
Time is fleeting
on this earth
and we are
quickly
approaching the
countdown to
God’s final
wrath. I do know
this--a fabulous
handbag isn’t
going to look
good in flames
if you are in
hell.
And I am not
saying anyone is
going to hell
for buying a
bag, or a golf
club or a
boat─not at
all. But if we
lose ourselves
to the desires
of this earth
and choose
carnality over
God, Satan
wins. It’s what
he wants. And he
plays the game
so cleverly. Do
not give the
devil that power
over you.
So enough of my
little dabbling
in couture. Who
needs it? It was
a little bit of
a kick while it
lasted, but then
not really. Just
not as important
as it used to be
and maybe that
is saying
something. When
I think about
what is awaiting
me in heaven, I
am overcome with
a joy that no
dollar sign can
ever purchase
and I know that
my eternal
dwelling place
will be the most
spectacular home
I could ever
imagine. If
heaven has green
grass, fields
and flowers, I’m
a happy girl.
If you find your
mind is clouded
by the earthly
pleasures that
are being hurled
at us by the
powers that be,
check your
perspective at
the door. Maybe
you are like me
and are being
tempted by the
goods that will
ultimately turn
your focus away
from the big
picture. Don’t
let it
happen. Ask God
to keep you on
the straight and
narrow and away
from temptations
and follies of
this world. God
has helped me
regain my
priorities. He
threw the net
out just in time
to reel me back
in and I am
grateful to Him
for that.
“…than to be the
king of a vast
domain, or be
held in sin’s
dread sway. I’d
rather have
Jesus than
anything this
world can afford
to gain.”
Amen. Jesus is
the King and I
love Him more
every day. He is
the reason I
live and breathe
and His death on
the cross at
Calvary for you
and me is the
reason I will
continue to
pursue His
kingdom. I want
to be
righteous. I
want to be
humble. I want
to live a life
that is pleasing
to Him. And I
know He is
guiding me along
that path. I am
grateful that He
has patience.
My next task?
Giving it
away. Becoming
selfless. Soul
searching. Sacrifice. I’m
working on that,
but that is for
another article…
Camilla Smith