A spur-of-the-moment decision at 6:00PM led us to go to Disney today to check out Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival. The place was packed! We were welcomed with a (somewhat) Hawaiian theme--Disney style--with Hawaii Five-O music playing in the background. Even my all-time favorite Disney character, Pluto, was wearing a lei!I could not help but notice the difference between what I saw today and what I've seen in the past few years. Aside from having a significantly less elaborate decor and lighting, you can no longer make your own robot at Innoventions and the Japanese Food Kiosk at the World Showcase no longer exists. These are the 2 main reasons why I'd visit Epcot, aside from the fireworks. Earlier this year, Disney revisited its staffing contracts; I'm pretty sure the Company also revisited other areas in an effort to reduce cost in today's economy. Besides, the kids wouldn't know the difference!
As a company must continuously seek ways to improve especially during a weakening economy in order to thrive or survive, so must a wise servant of God revisit all aspects of his/her life in today's society in order to "quench the fiery darts of the devil" (Ephesians 6:16 KJV).
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23, 24 KJV
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me [with thy] free spirit. [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." Psalm 51:10-13 KJV
Obviously, society is not getting any better. As Christians, it is even more detrimental nowadays to be outside the center of God's will, or simply put, off-track. We often fail to see the long-term effect(s) of our wrong decisions as it impacts not only ourselves but those who are close to us, those who we work so hard to provide for, protect, and love.
At Epcot, my kids (not I) have established certain "rest areas". I have never really understood this, given that I'm the one who pushes the stroller, and all they have to do is sit, watch, and eat. One of their favorite stops is the mini train station. They watch with glee while I find myself slowly getting hypnotized by the repetitive sound and movement of the trains. Today, however, something broke that repetitive pattern: a train gets off-track! While this poor train falls to the side with its engine still running, all the other trains pass him up and continue on their journey to fulfil their purpose. Suddenly, I remembered a message our Pastor in Hawaii preached. That is, God intends to freely bless His children each day.
"Blessed [be] the Lord, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our salvation. Selah." Psalm 68:19 KJV
He likened a Christian to a train. God continually pours blessings and the train keeps receiving such blessings, as long as it is on the train track. In the event that the train gets off-track, God will still continue to pour blessings but the train will no longer be in the position to receive them. At some point, the train may be able to get back on track and start receiving God's blessings all over again. However, the train will never be able to regain all the other blessings that it has missed out on, while it was off-track.
Satan always uses the same tricks to make the world seem very enticing. As Christians, we have already experienced God's great blessings; yet, we tend to forget that He has so much more to offer! It's easy to get tempted and get off-track, but is it really worth it?
Temporary satisfaction (with lingering negative effects) vs. eternal gain? My Bible College Instructor painted a great illustration: Advertisers associate alcohol with attractive men and women having (worldy) fun. It's a brilliant way to shape and convince the minds of consumers that alcohol is therefore fun. No wonder why companies invest millions of dollars in advertising, annually. What if advertisers showed the real, long-term effects of alcohol? Picture a drunk driver, killing an innocent victim on the road, thereby changing the lives of that victim's family, forever. Imagine a drunken father coming home, beating his wife and molesting his very own little daughter. Then, picture that little girl growing up, thinking very little of herself, and ending up on the streets, a prostitute. Think of that girl getting pregnant, and bearing an innocent child into this world, with AIDS. My jaw dropped as our Instructor went on and on.
Sadly, it does not take much to influence people nowadays, so it is very important to ensure that you are grounded on a very firm foundation, Jesus Christ. Stay rooted and grounded, so that you don't get off-track. When tempted to look in other directions, remember to look "up".
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Hebrews 12:2,3 KJV
While our trip to Disney today wasn't necessarily the most pleasant, I can still be thankful and praise God that He had embedded a great lesson in that seemingly boring mini train station.
Once again, I remember Glenn Furuya (http://www.leadershipworks.com/) teaching that "Life only gives you gifts and lessons." Today, I was reminded that lessons come in many different forms: some come right at you, some are buried beneath the surface waiting to be discovered. Allow God's Spirit to help you uncover some of these valuable lessons. It's like discovering a diamond in the rough! Priceless.
