God Already Has Your Ice Cream Cone
I recently sat with a friend, Jeremy, and his three-year-old
son, Jeremiah, at a local restaurant.
Jeremy and I had already finished eating and were talking about
the Rockets as Jeremiah paid close attention to everything in
the restaurant but the meat on his plate.
Dad kept reminding the child that he still needed to finish his
lunch. Each time Jeremy spoke to him, Jeremiah would briefly
return to his food, but after a small bite he'd go back to
playing with the salt shaker or giggling with the child seated
behind him.
Finally, dad spoke what seemed to be the magic words: "Jeremiah,
if you don't finish that meat, I'm not going to buy you an ice
cream cone."
The meat suddenly became the most important item in the room.
Jeremiah would take a bite or two and stay focused until he
seemingly forgot what his dad had just spoken to him. Three
minutes later, with half his lunch still uneaten, Jeremiah's
attention returned to the hustle and bustle of his environment.
Frustrated but determined, Jeremy went to the counter and got
his son an ice cream cone, which sat melting on the table in
front of him until every bite of the meat had disappeared from
the youngster's plate.
"That's how I see you," God's still small voice spoke very
clearly inside of me.
Perplexed, I looked at this cute little kid with melted ice
cream smeared all over his face and dripping down the front of
his t-shirt. And I realized, in amazement, that God had just
used this child and his dad to illustrate a very important point
to me.
Our heavenly daddy is no different! He has given us a book of
promises and they all sit on the table. Our ice cream cone sits
before us, waiting for the moment in which we have done what he
has required, feeding on his word and nourishing ourselves so he
can gleefully give us the treat we've been so eagerly waiting
for.
Our Father is gracious and giving by nature. Jesus said it this
way: "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good
gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matt. 7:11)
At times, aren't we just like Jeremiah? How often has God placed
his goodness before us, and staying focused and persevering
becomes such a challenge we can't see the answered prayer that
is literally right within our grasp?
Paul recognized that staying focused on the desired outcome
would empower us to stay faithful to the course. "Let us not
grow weary in doing good," he wrote, "for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:9).
We know that the only way Jesus got through the misery of the
cross was to focus on the end result. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that
"for the joy set before him he endured the cross."
Sometimes we just need to keep our eyes on the prize.
The answer to our prayer and the fulfillment of our deepest
dreams and longings are all available to us, once we stay
focused on the task at hand, get nourished and grow. Then, he
promises to pour out his goodness in a manner that is greater
than we can ask or imagine.
We have to finish our meat! Sometimes we may not feel hungry
anymore. Sometimes the cares of life will distract us. Sometimes
the lies of the enemy will replace the promises God has provided
us in his word.
The author of Hebrews wrote, "We do not want you to become lazy,
but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what
has been promised" (Heb. 6:12).
Keep in mind, if we do our part and stay focused and obedient,
his word cannot fail.
For Jeremiah that day, it was an ice cream cone. What are the
desires of your heart today?
Lift up your hands and praise the Living God. He's placed them
on the table before you.