Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Prize


Imagine.
Imagine you found out about a contest where you can win the greatest prize you've ever heard of. Not JUST a car or a boat. Not JUST a free trip to wherever you want. Not JUST a million dollars, or twenty or a hundred million dollars! Or any combination of all of the above. It's better.
You get to choose your perfect life and it gets made into reality. Money is no object, whatever you want.
You get to choose the type of work you do without having to worry about money because you'll have absolutely NO bills to pay. You can do whatever you've always wanted to do just for the joy of it, just because you want to do what you are good at. The only compensation you are concerned about is being able to use your talents and skills to make a difference to someone, somewhere. And you don't have to worry about juggling between work and life outside of work, you set your own hours, you only have to work when you aren't busy with other things, but of course you still work because it's something you love to do. Work is truly enjoyable.
Of course, not having bills to pay is just the beginning of this new kind of financial freedom. You don't just have limitless money to spend on what you want, it goes beyond that. Your home is custom made for you and your needs, no more no less. Every day your kitchen is filled with the freshest and healthiest, choice meats, vegetables, fruits, and if you aren't a fan of cooking all your meals will be cooked for you, any dish you could want to try. Your community is beautiful, surrounded by colorful and fragrant orchards and gardens, fresh and vibrant, a magnificent experience to be around every day. No matter where you choose to live you are surrounded by people you love, people you actually share your life with, a community that works together for the benefit of everyone. You share your possessions, homes, experiences, values, beliefs. Community at its best.
And the prize makes pretty much anything you want to do happen, just like that. Earth becomes one small community, you can go anywhere you want, you can be part of any crowd. Join the musicians for jam sessions, just to listen or participate. Join wildlife experts on expeditions to study and help animals, up close and personal. You name it; art, athletics, writing, drama, history, culinary arts, crafting, photography, socializing, nature hikes, exploring, adventure/thrill seeking, games/rides, the possibilities for how you spend your days are endless.
The prize. You couldn't ask for more.
The prize consumes you, the possibilities, the expectation, the desire. Everyday life becomes so pale in comparison. The best homemade meal, the best day at work, the best night out, the best long weekend, the best gathering of the best of your friends, the best vacation trip, all great moments but they leave you longing for more.
What if you had to wait an indeterminate time for the prize, a qualifying period lets say? Would you still enter the contest? OF COURSE you would! What if people who hadn't heard of such a contest, or people who couldn't believe in such a wonderful contest, ridiculed you? Would you still enter the contest? You might do some more research, but after being shown very compelling evidence the contest is real, you confidently enter the contest.
Now, you are about to enter the contest, you're going to answer the skill testing question, and before you do you first have to be made aware of the 'fine print' or the legalities. There is a guide book you should read to help with the qualifying period, but you will do what it takes to win, you are eager to read it. So you do, and you find out that there will be a cost, that there will be sacrifices to be made in order to win the prize. Do you still think trying to qualify is worth it? Giving up the life you currently live for the perfect life? Imperfection for perfection is how you see it, so yes, you still want the prize. And reading further, you realize your involvement in this contest, your desire for the prize will set you apart from some people, many people? Do you still think qualifying is worth it? What you will share with a wonderful community will far outweigh any seperation you feel from people in the interm, so yes, you still want the prize. The promise of the prize has made you unattached from everything most people cling to, and you are willing to give it all up.
Good news. This prize is real.
There is a perfect life waiting for you that makes this one pale in comparison. There is a perfect life that you should drive you to endure anything to attain it. There is a 'skill testing' question that promises the prize of a perfect life. The question is, do you believe in and accept Jesus Christ's gift of salvation, accept His promise of spending a perfect life in eternity with Him?

2 comments:

tammi said...

SIGN ME UP!!! Awesome analogy, Lori! Beautiful post!!

Pamela said...

Great post! and what a great prize!

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