The Sacrifice of Abraham (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A man lived, in the years when men died quicker.  It was there, a certain place in eternity, where God took His stand among men.  “I will cause you to be the father of many nations.  I will bless those who bless you.  And I will curse those who curse you.”  And the man submitted.

All things belong to God.  You who hold so tightly to what you think you own, I have a message for you.  You who think you can control your own destiny.  You who think the world is simply a place where profit lay hidden, waiting for your greedy fingers to uncover as a child would look for eggs on Easter.  You are full of pride in the accomplishments of your mind.  And your heart is cold to anyone who would compete with you to gain.  The way you are living is not the intent of God for man.

All things belong to God.  But many take as they please.  No thanks is given for the air they breathe unless it is a thankful heart that they can continue to plunder.  You will deny that your god is greed.  But your actions speak far louder than you know.

All things belong to God.  The man who lived when men died quicker was not like you.  He was a righteous man.  And his son was a righteous son.  What is it to us if we are asked to lay down our desire?  Who are we that we should compare ourselves to such a man?  “Sacrifice your son.”  This was not spoken to such a man as I.  Yet this man who lived when men died quicker was willing.  Greed was not his god.  Even to the dispatching of his lovely son, this man was willing to give all he had.  He reasoned that God was able to raise the dead.  And it was credited to him as righteousness from God’s Holy Throne.

Consider what you think you own.  Consider the way of your fingers to gain what you should not.  Consider how hard your heart has become since you were an innocent child.  For now, you believe that who you have become is who you must be.  I tell you that such thinking is a direct lie.  You need not live like that.  God will provide for you.  But you will be asked to suffer loss for His sake.  I tell you, it is worth everything you think you own to gain what God offers all men.

Consider: All things belong to God.  Get yourself away from greed.  Enter into the presence of the One who owns all things yet is generous beyond our understanding.  Sacrifice what you have.  Though you are not as the man who lived when men died quicker, you still present yourself unwillingly before the eyes of He who sees even into the darkest night.  All your ways are counted.  Yet He offers you what is Good.  Let go of what is not yours.  All things belong to God.