And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you… Isaiah 30:18
If you follow this blog, you have by now ascertained that I am a distributor for Young Living Essential Oils. I have said before that becoming an “oiler” has sparked a journey of health and wellness in my life. And as I learn, my educator’s heart wants to share what I have learned. As with most oilers, it has become less about selling something to someone and much more about encouraging people to make wise choices for their health in all areas.
This desire to educate people leads me to host wellness events in my home or at vendor tables in local festivals. I work hard to prepare and provide as much information and hands-on experience as I can so people can gather knowledge in a comfortable environment. When I host something in my home, I clean, I prepare food, I set up stations, and then I wait. When I host a vendor event at a festival, I load my car, unload my car, set up a display, and then I wait. And sometimes, I wait in vain. Sometimes, even when people have said they will come, they don’t. Sometimes, all that work seems wasted.
What I prepare out of a heart to give and help goes unacknowledged or unappreciated because no one comes. And yet, I keep trying. I plan again, and I hope, and I wait.
And today as I sat in prayer, asking God to give me a pure heart and pure attitude and guide me in my journey, I had a profound revelation. This is how God feels.
God sent His only son Jesus to earth, to live a pure and sinless life. And then, He provided Jesus as a sacrifice—the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. God provided a Way to atone for the sin of mankind. He planned and He prepared. He carried out that plan. Jesus died and rose again. He sent the Holy Spirit to be Counselor, Convictor, and Gift-Giver. God has a plan for each and every human who lives or has ever lived. Jeremiah says He has plans to prosper us. (Jeremiah 29:11) God wants us to have a great life. He wants to give us good gifts. But He wants our hearts. He wants us to come to Him. And so He waits. Each and every day He waits for someone to come. He has so much to give.
There are times when I give up. I think about planning an event, and then I don’t do it. I feel it may be a waste of my time.
But God never gives up. His Holy Spirit is continually at work calling sinners to repentance. God is not willing that any should perish. This is God’s heart.
Your physical body will one day die, regardless of whether you take great care of it or neglect it. Physical wellness is temporary. But your residence for eternity will be determined by your response to God. He has everything to offer you in this life and for all eternity. And it is all free. You will never get a better deal. Have you made a choice to serve God? Is He calling you?