My wife just called me into the living room to see a contestant on the game show, “Deal or No Deal” make his final decision. With three cases remaining, an offer of over $600,000 on the board, and the real “million dollar question” looming, the guest slammed the cover to the “Deal” button signifying his determination to go forward. With the choice of his next case he reduced his potential for taking home the greatest prize by a third, leaving only the million dollar case and a $1 case available. His offer at this point was still over an impressive $400,000. Oh the things we could do with that kind of money! At the point of decision once again, the gentleman was bombarded by everyone’s reasons why and why not to take the deal of $400,000.
On this show you invite those who are closest to you to be your anchor in the midst of the pressure. They are the ones who help you find the courage to go forward or the humilty (and sense in most cases) not to. This man had three people who told him that because November was a cursed month for them (one case left was the 11) and because his case, the 15, was the birthdate of some significant family members, that he should throw caution to the wind and reject the large offer in order to claim the $1,000,000 prize that they “knew” was in his case, the 15.
His mom from the audience floor speaks up softly, not overbearing, saying, “Take the deal. There is no good reason to throw away what is promised for something that is uncertain. I’m proud of you.” His sister (at least that is my guess) gets the final word saying, “Either way, is fine. You will have either $400,000 or $1,000,000.” He stands for what seems like an hour as my wife and I began to yell at him as if we could influence him, “Are you stupid? Take the money! Four huuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnddreeeedd thooooouuuuuuusssssssand!”
He didn’t listen.
He slammed the “Deal” button cover closed and submitted to the fate of the dollar figure held in his case. Howie, the host, made no hesitation in moving to the case, positioning himself for the dramatic conclusion. All behind them you see audience members in disbelief. His mother is there, her head down but not in a way of disappointment as much as heartbroken by what he passed up. And, as you can guess, his case did not hold the million dollar label. There were no zeros after the “1″ in his case. The only voice heard as Howie opened the case was George Washington and his dollar bill.
And I can’t help but think of heaven’s angels like an audience to our everyday crossroads. With some we are chosing when the stakes are low and many cases still exist. And with others, there is the supernatural knowledge that there is more at stake than what we realize. I can almost hear them (only with the same purpose, unlike the audience on the game show) yelling and urging me to make the best choice. Sometimes the value is for my future and other times it is for those around me. But always it is for the glory of God and His purpose and will. “Choose to love! Choose to give! Choose to ask! Choose to walk away! Choose to accept! Choose to fight!” And yet so often people, myself included, give up what is promised for the thought of something we believe has a higher value. The result is the same as the game show. We end up short changed.
So how did we get here?
It is the influence we allowed to sway our decisions at our most crucial hour. It is our closet companions. Our real first loves. Ourself. Our desires. Our ambitions. Our plans. Our will. The problem is that all to often that doesn’t include our Savior or our God. The bible tells us that where our treasure is, there our heart is also. The distractions only seem loud when we keep them close to us. When we do our best to stay near God, there doesn’t seem to be enough room for the distractions to join. So take your hand off the “no deal” distractions of life and plant yourself in the middle of the “take the money and run” promises of God.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scournful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
Good word, bro.