The other day I was in Lake Forest Mall, having lunch right next to a little store near an entrance. During a long layover at an airport, I noticed that it attracted more people than any other store I could see from where I was sitting. In fact people were coming in from outside, going directly to the store and then leaving. The whole time I was watching, a steady stream of customers approached with cash in hand, stood in line, made a purchase, and left quickly. All seemed to know exactly what they wanted.
Having finished my lunch, my curiousity got the best of me, and I had to walk over to see what was happening. The thriving business sold lottery tickets. Even though the chance of winning the Mega-Millions is 1 in 175 million, people seemed compelled to spend something and, in almost every case, get nothing. It seemed to be a vivid picture of our enduring quest for satisfaction and security in material things.
God’s people were questioned through the prophet Isaiah, God asked why they spent their money for things that neither nourished nor satisfied them. The Lord invited those who had no resources to “come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. . . . And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me” (Isa. 55:1-3).
God offers to give us what we can’t buy—mercy, pardon, and a changed life infused with God’s presence. He invites us to “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (v.6).
By God’s grace, we can freely receive His something—for nothing.
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