PRISONERS OF THE MOMENT

After sleeping off a fun Valentine’s Day, Wednesday began much the same as most days that I’m off work. My wife went to school a little late and I was left in solitude with a cup of coffee as I sat in the sun on my porch swing listening to the river.

After taking a call from my friend Jeremy, I finished my coffee and left for the gym.

As I sat in the locker room preparing for my workout, ESPN Sports Center was on.

It seems like the whole world is buzzing about Jeremy Lin, point guard for the New York Knicks. Conversation on the TV turned to the overnight sensation.

At one point I heard a curious question asked. The question:
“If Eli Manning and Jeremy Lin enter the same New York City restaurant, who gets seated first?”

Really?! Overnight sensation and promising talent or not, the table goes to Eli Manning.

Fresh off a Super Bowl XLVI victory, Manning has been tried and tested a New York sports hero. A two time Super Bowl Champ (& MVP) trumps a few days of great basketball.

One of the Sports Center commentators made a remark that I believe was on point and insightful. In reference to the question above he said:
“We are prisoners of the moment!”

The world is so caught up in “Lin-sanity” that he is being elevated to a status that he hasn’t really earned.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of J. Lin & I’m eager to see what the future holds for him. My reason for this post is not to bash or berate Jeremy Lin, but to share insights based on this conversation.

In life we are faced with many choices each day. Often we become “prisoners of the moment” & make choices out of selfishness & based on how we feel or what we want at the moment. Giving no thought to consequence or who it affects, we make decisions that, if left unchecked will destroy us.

As Paul wrote his letters to the early church, in each of them he refers to himself as a prisoner/servant/slave of Christ.
If we serve Him, then we don’t have to be “prisoners of the moment” because in Him there is freedom.

In Him there is power.

In Him there is victory!

Through the cross and an empty tomb Jesus broke our prison chains so that we may live and walk in that victory.

Don’t allow sin to elevate itself to a status that it CANNOT earn.
Sin’s power is defeated!

Will we be tempted? Sure.
Will we be prisoners? You decide for yourself.

I choose today to walk in the freedom that Jesus purchased for me.