Isaiah 22:13
“And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating
flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall
die.”
The inevitable invasion of the Assyrian army revealed the mindset of the Jewish people. Even though they sacrificed and frequented the temple, it was the impending invasion of this army that revealed their heart and mind. The mindset that was so destructive was that they thought they should just live for the moment because they felt they were going to die on the morrow.
This living-for-the-moment mindset is a mindset that besets a person for life. God says in the next verse, “And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” This verse reveals that death is the only thing that changes this mindset. This mindset was one that not only angered God, but it was a mindset they never overcame.
A person will never know what they truly are until they are faced with a momentous moment in their life that changes their life forever. I have watched many people over the years declare that they would serve the LORD until they die, only to see them go to the world when sickness, death, loss of job, or family problems come into their life. Certainly, it is easy to say in the good times that you are going to serve the LORD till you die, but it is the bad times that reveals the mindset of an individual. Bad times are the pressure cooker of the soul that reveals the believer’s true heart. Two things you need to consider about this living-for-the-moment mindset, and how you can keep this destructive mindset from controlling you.
First, there is always an eternity, even if death is your tomorrow. What these people forgot to take into consideration is that they would have to face the LORD for what they did today if they died tomorrow. My friend, the only way you are going to overcome this living-for-the-moment mindset is to realize that tomorrow you must live with today’s consequences. If your tomorrow is eternity, God will judge your works for what you have done for Him. If you live for the moment, you will have no works for which the LORD can reward you.
Second, the living-for-the-moment mindset is a controlling mindset. Verse 14 reveals that this mindset controls the individual to the day of their death. In other words, once you start living for the moment, you will never break this habit until you die. You must be careful about doing things to enjoy the moment because it becomes an addictive habit. Instead of living for the pleasure of the moment, you should live to reap the rewards of tomorrow. Living for the moment brings consequences tomorrow, but living for eternity results in a blessed tomorrow.
Christian, the only way you are going to break this mindset is that you are going to have to die. Verse 14 says, “…this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die…” The answer to breaking this living-for-the-moment mindset is to die to self today. You can overcome this mindset, but you are going to have to die to self. Every day you are going to have to crucify your flesh and live for the LORD because that is the only way you can successfully overcome this destructive mindset. You have a choice: you can either let this living-for-the-moment mindset destroy you, or you can die to self and let the mind of Christ control you which results in eternal rewards and earthly blessings. What are you going to do?