The Token

“For this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:27-29 KJV

A woman had a daughter whom she loved. This child was unassuming and had almost always held opposing sentiments to her mothers. Albeit this friction could not mar their relationship and she equally loved her mother so much. Although she loved her daughter, this mother had her reservations about how successful her daughters future would be. Her daughter had vowed nonetheless to do her proud. Growing up and maturing in her faith, she eagerly pursued God’s will for her life and had managed to chart her own unique path in career and ministry. Her mother, now aging and celebrating her retirement had a gathering hosted in her honour. Her beloved daughter was in attendance and had bought her a lusciously arranged bouquet of flowers.

Unbeknownst to the mother, there was a cash token in the bouquet. The mother kept the bouquet and only discovered the token the morning after the celebrations. She assumed it might have gotten there by accident and quickly phoned her daughter, asking when she could return the money. Her daughter, having expected no different a reaction from her mother smiled softly at the other end of the line and to her mother’s surprise said, “it’s all yours, use it as needed”.

Many a time we do not recognize, acknowledge and we sometimes even fail to appreciate the tokens that God himself has freely given us for our own benefit. This may be due to the fact that we underestimate the value of what we have because we truly do not see it’s worth. We question their existence and usefulness and God’s ability to use it for His glory.

“And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:8-16 KJV

Need I say more about the above except to reiterate the last verse; the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail. How did this happen? She put her ‘token’ to use as instructed. Rahab used her brothel, David used his harp and witty battle skills, Solomon used his wealth, Samson used his strength, Joseph used his interpretation of dreams, Moses used his meekness and leadership, Esther used her favour before the king, Daniel used his academic excellence, Mary used her virginity, Dorcas used her gifts, Paul used his knowledge and experiences, the little boy used his five loaves and two fishes, the woman at the well used her story. I could go on and on but the bottom line is, God couldn’t have possibly singled you out and given you nothing to use. Side note: none of the aforementioned individuals was perfect. They each availed themselves and used what they had, their tokens!!!

“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” Romans 11:1-5 KJV

Don’t write anyone off as irredeemable when we’re still enjoying the era of grace. Rather seek that the Holy Spirit will convict them to receive the gospel that we share. May the reaper angels be deployed to our advantage and empower us to harvest the field of souls; the remnant of the end times. The soul you may be writing off could very well be your heavenly neighbour. Renew your mind, shift your perspective! Redirect your goalpost from scoring more “judging/criticism-points” to scoring more “soul-points”!!!

What do you have in your hand. What talent, gift or token has God blessed you with? How are you using it to populate heaven. I pray that we all channel our energies to ploughing the field of souls and leverage on the gifts God has blessed us with to redirect them from the highway to hell onto the narrow path. “And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” – (Luke 10:2) May your life be the example to those who see it because you choose to use ‘the token’ you have.

With love, Esinam.