A Moment’s Eternal Cost

“The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once, when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, ‘Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!’ (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’

‘Look, I am about to die,’ Esau said. ‘What good is the birthright to me?’

But Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.

So Esau despised his birthright.”

Genesis 25:27-34

Jacob enticed Esau when he was most hungry. The aroma of Jacob’s soup weakened Esau’s wisdom and discernment. Jacob offered what he knew would sound best to Esau at that moment. Esau let a minute’s temptation-- a moment’s enticement--cost his life’s inheritance and honor as the firstborn son. What sounded good for a night, at the expense of everything.

Don’t let a minute’s temptation cost you eternal salvation. The enemy will entice us with what he knows we’re hungry for at just the right moment. We must learn to stand firm.

We cannot live devaluing grace by continually letting ourselves meander through the valleys of darkness, wading knee deep into our fleshly desires. We will sink deeper than we ever intended to. We will find ourselves numb to sin and drowning in darkness, giving up everything for what sounds good for a moment.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8

“Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”

Ephesians 6:13