It's almost the end of August, and the weather has already begun to change. Thanksgiving, though, is still months away. And Easter - Resurrection Sunday - was just a few months ago. So it will be many more months until we reach the Easter season again.
Christians know, though, that every day truly celebrates what is commemorated at Easter and Thanksgiving - and for that matter, Christmas as well.
There's also something of a worldly "holiday" that falls right after Thanksgiving. It's not quite as popular as in times past, but it's still going pretty strong. It's the day that retailers have traditionally counted on to be profitable for the year - Black Friday. Crowds line up for hours before stores open to get the bargains offered by the retailers to officially kick off the Christmas shopping season. Sometimes the crowds are so great and eager to beat each other to the bargains that violence, chaos, destruction erupt.
Then, of course, Easter is preceded by a special Friday - Good Friday, the day the Lord was sacrificed on the Cross for our sins. All seemed lost on that day. Even Jesus' disciples couldn't see past his death, despite His telling them that He would be betrayed and put to death by sinners, and then rise again on the third day - and that this was His Father's plan for the redemption of mankind.
There are obvious lessons that can be learned by looking at these two Fridays.
One is about seeking after what this world has to offer, while the other is about seeking the Kingdom of Heaven. These two worlds are fundamentally opposed to each other, just as the Spirit and the flesh are opposed to each other.
Both offer a vision of happiness, and people respond so strongly to each vision that they'll press to get themselves into it. Crowds thronged to Jesus, and they throng to go after the world's goods.
"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
- Luke 16:16
"And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him."
- Mark 3:9
Our Father knows we have need of the things of the world, as Jesus spoke of.
But if we don't seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and His righteousness (Matthew 6:31-33), and try instead to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth rather than in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), we might gain the whole world but will lose our own souls (Matthew 16:26). And that sense of loss can't be filled with all the riches in the world. There is no true satisfaction in the pursuing the things of the world. For the satanic appetite, nothing is ever enough.
"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter."
Isaiah 56:10-11
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people."
Habakkuk 2:4-5
In the Lord Jesus, though, there is contentment and satisfaction.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
1 Timothy 6:6-10
As Christians, it can be all too easy for us to be lured into the world's thinking.
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
- James 4:3
When under the world's pressure to go after the things Satan wants us to believe are desirable, we should remember that the Lord will give us everything we truly need.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Matthew 7:7-11
In Christ, we miss out on nothing. Satan through the world is constantly trying to tell us that we will miss out if we follow Him, but to follow Satan is ultimately to miss out on what the Lord has for us - a truly satisfying life in which we will be able to enjoy Him forever.
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
- Luke 12:32
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 10:9-10
Darkness came over the world on Good Friday. It might have been called "Black Friday" for reasons having nothing to do with profits. But it's truly "Good Friday" because on that day the Lord purchased eternal life for whoever will receive it from Him.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16