A Quick Errand by Dawn White

A Quick Errand

Scripture:  Eph. 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I want you to imagine with me for a moment that you are in need of some items from the grocery store.  You have a son/daughter that is of age and able to run to the grocery store for you and pick up the items you need, which you have listed on a sheet of paper.  In order to pay for the items, you have given them a signed check; all they will have to do is fill out the ‘Pay To The Order Of’ and the amount.  

This seems like a simple task, pretty straightforward and won’t take much time.  You have supplied them with all they need to complete the task.  They have the transportation, the list of items needed, and the funds to pay for them.  Your expectation is that they will return in a short amount of time with the items you requested, in hand.

That’s the scenario from your perspective as the parent.  Now let’s examine the task from the child’s perspective.  They have access to the car by themself and have a blank signed check.  There is a rush of freedom and power that comes with having the car and a blank signed check.  

On the way to the grocery store, they decide that McDonald’s is sounding pretty good, as they are a little hungry.  With only one check in hand, they can’t use it at both the grocery store and McDonald’s.  Since the bank is on the way, they stop by and get cash with the check, enough to cover the groceries and a snack from McDonald’s.  The account always seems to have money in it, so no reason to believe that it wouldn’t this time.

After picking up the snack at McDonald’s, they head to the grocery store.  As they walk into the store, they run into a friend that is headed to the movies.  The friend asks them to come along.  Knowing they have cash in hand, they decide they can pick up the groceries after the movies.  Surely the movie can’t be that much.  Once at the theater, the popcorn smells so good, too good to pass up, so without another thought they purchase a large popcorn with additional butter.  They find a seat in the theater and settle in to enjoy a great movie.  

This scenario seems to be exaggerated, on one hand, and yet I believe it represents our daily life in the grand scheme of things.  The mother sent her child to complete a simple task, fully equipped to complete it successfully.  But the child got derailed with all the other temptations and options available.  

Friends, this is our lives.  God sent us to earth to do a task for him, as indicated in the scripture above.  We were created to do good works which God prepared for us in advance.  The grocery store errand is a simple and seemingly quick task to be completed.  And so it is with our lives.  Our life on earth is really no longer than a heart beat when considered in the grand scheme of eternity.  God sent us here with a job to do, and yet, how often do we get derailed, chasing down things that appear fun, appealing, beneficial, prosperous, etc. on the surface?  

I’ve said many times before that I write these teachings for myself more than anyone.  God has really been dealing with me over the past couple of weeks about how temporary life on earth really is.  And yet, I seem to get so caught up in it and lose sight of the grand scheme and the purpose for my existence here.

He reminded me just this morning that the priorities of the world are really of no value in the Kingdom.  My goal should be that I serve Him fully and completely each and every day, doing whatever He asks of me.  Sometimes this is easy and sometimes it isn’t.  Nonetheless, the rewards that I store up for my obedience and surrender to Him are eternal.  The rewards that we seek after in this life will perish and be left behind once we pass on.  

I invite you to join with me and set your sights on the things above.  Really press in and seek God for revelation on the good works that He prepared in advance for you to do.  There is only one of you and God has a job for you.  When we are obedient to Him, we feel so satisfied in this earthly life, but oh my, the rewards that we will receive for our life in eternity.  I can only imagine…..

Your life here is really nothing more than a quick errand for the King of Kings.  Focus is imperative for me, and perhaps you also.  And yet, He has fully equipped us to do the job.