In Advance
Have
you ever had something done “in advance?” Perhaps your employers have extended
your paycheck “in advance.” Maybe you have made plans to go to a relative’s
house “in advance.” Some pay on summer vacations throughout the year “in advance.”
This bulletin article was written “in advance” on January 2nd and
scheduled to be published on February 16th. Why do we do things “in
advance?” Doing things “in advance” is related to the future. We are either
borrowing from it, or we are preparing for it.
There are those who borrow
from the future. They live for the moment never considering what might happen
the next day. These trade a future state of misery for present pleasure. The
alcoholic drinks without thought of consequences to himself and his family. The
fornicator sins regardless the damage that will be done to his and other’s
bodies. The gambler wagers his living on the chance that he will earn more
later. Sin ignores future consequences telling us that all will be well
regardless! What a lie.
On the other hand, there
are those who prepare for the future. They recognize the principle of delayed
gratification. This is the notion of putting off what pleases today so that one
may plan one’s future appropriately. This means forgoing present pleasures to
reap future rewards. Moses is an example of this: “By faith Moses, when he
became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). Will we
live for the moment or prepare for a future with God?
God bless you, and I love
you.
Kevin Cauley