In my early teen years I always wanted a motorcycle. Knowing my mom and dad couldn’t really afford one, I would ask for one every Christmas anyway.
When I was 15 years of age they assured me I would get a motorcycle for Christmas. Being excited for several days doesn’t even come close to my attitude and overall demeanor toward them or anyone else. I was the model teenager and sitting on top of the world knowing that I was going to wake up on Christmas morning and find a motorcycle waiting for me outside.
Sure enough they were true to their word except the motorcycle I received was a nice plastic model of what I really wanted. My parents knew what my heart wanted but gave me what I needed and explained the many reasons I should have the model over the real thing.
Now that I am an adult and have children of my own I truly understand their logic and reasoning for not allowing me to have a motorcycle. It is not that motorcycles are bad, it was their vision and knowledge of what would probably happen to me if I received one.
Life is like this for many of us. As adults we are often searching and wanting for worldly possessions we have no need for. We may work hard and earn a good living but many times we do not receive or buy things that we think we can’t live without.
Our Father in heaven allows us to make decisions on our personal lives, however we need to listen to Him and ask for His guidance in all that we do or buy. Just as my earthly parents knew my needs and didn’t give in to my whining desires, our heavenly Father knows much more about us than what our earthly parents will ever know. My parents knew what kind of person I was at the age of 15 and knew that I did not need a motorcycle. I had no way of taking care of it much less having the maturity to ride it without taking chances. They also knew my chances of living and being with them were much greater if I didn’t own one.
Knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior is all that we ever need. For this we are promised eternal life with Him. The world will tell us different but we need to remember what Jesus said in Mark 8:36; “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
The desire to own a motorcycle lingered on with me for many years but now that I am older and wiser, I didn’t really need one in the first place.
