Opposites!

Some of the ministers in the community are on a rotation to write a devotional article for the local news paper. About every six weeks my name comes up and today was my day. I share it here, for what it is worth. The article will appear in Wednesday's edition of the El Dorado Springs Sun. I titled it "Opposites!"
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“Opposites!” is a fun game to play with children. You say one word and the child says the opposite. The younger the child, the easier you make the word. “Up?” receives a resounding “Down!”

“Dark?” “Light!”

And with each exchange the game gets faster and more difficult. Day/night, hot/cold, winter/summer…

Now, let’s play “Opposites!” on another level. What is the opposite of ‘lost?’ We think of car keys and say, “Found.” The opposite of ‘saved’ has to be ‘spent’ because we think of the paycheck that barely covered the bills. It was spent and not saved. But the preacher asks, “Are you saved?” and suddenly the word has a different meaning with eternal implications. Then the opposite of ‘saved’ becomes ‘lost’ and we see the Good Shepherd saving the lost lamb from the thicket.

Perhaps, however, the opposite of ‘saved’ can also be ‘spent’ even with these eternal spiritual implications in mind. Are we using our energies and resources for God’s purposes? Or are we spending them foolishly? What determines how we spend our gifts of time and talent and treasure? Are our spiritual energies ‘saved’ for the Lord or ‘spent’ on ourselves? On Pentecost Peter said, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Paul wrote, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Are we saved for the Lord or are we spent (exhausted, used up) on this world?

Also read Acts 2:40 ; Romans 12:3; James 4:3