The Distinction Between The Two Blessings That God Has Bestowed

 

God never ceases to amaze me, but when He made this revelation to me, the joy I felt was beyond overwhelming. I am really grateful to God for allowing me to be able to say, "I'M SO BLESSED," for this reason.

What does it mean to be blessed as a person? People's perceptions of the word "blessed" vary widely. The individual might say, for instance, "I am incredibly blessed because I finished school and passed the exam." "My wonderful house, car, and other possessions make me feel quite blessed." "I am quite blessed to have an excellent career with a high salary." "Due to my business, I am extremely blessed." "Being able to travel the world is a huge blessing for me." "Because I have a child, I am extremely blessed." "Because I am attractive and charming, I am very blessed." "I feel incredibly blessed to live in such a lovely country, and so on."

However, what if you don't feel blessed in your circumstances? If you don't have children or are unable to have children, are disabled or have a physical defect, are unemployed and have no money, didn't finish school and failed the exam, have an unattractive house and no car, or have health conditions that worry you, shouldn't you be considered blessed?

Why do we frequently equate being "blessed" with favourable circumstances, wealth, health, accomplishments, prestige, physical beauty or attractiveness, being free from troubles, etc.? It is because we have an extremely limited understanding and a shallow concept of the word "blessed."

The term "blessed" has a variety of definitions in the dictionary, including "made holy; consecrated," "endowed" (which means you have received a gift that cannot be returned or exchanged, with divine favour and protection), and "bringing pleasure." In addition to that, the believer also says that, because of God's grace, they are in a very favourable situation to receive his provisions. Receiving the Lord's indwelling faith results in this. The Bible explicitly states this. However, there is a verse in the Bible that describes the distinction between an everlasting blessing and a temporary blessing, and God specifically focused on this verse for me as one of His blessings.

GENESIS 17:15-16 (NLT)

15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

GENESIS 17:17-18 (NLT)

17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

GENESIS 17:19-22 (NLT)

19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

As stated in this verse, Abraham laughed in disbelief when God told him he would give him and Sarah a son due to their advanced age. As a result, he questioned himself. So Abraham said to God, "May Ishmael live under your special blessing!" because they also thought that Ishmael was what God had in mind. But God responded that it would not be Ishmael who would experience what Abraham had asked for—"may live under His special blessing"—because he and Sarah would have a son called ISAAC, and God would then establish His covenant with him and his descendants as an EVERLASTING COVENANT.

Abraham and Hagar, his wife Sarah's slave, had Ishmael as their child. Then God blessed him as well, but only Isaac received the blessing that God had promised would be "everlasting" because Isaac was born as God's own fulfilment of his promise, whereas Ishmael was created through human attempt or human effort.

GALATIANS 4:22-23 (NLT)

22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

This is also what happened to those who were fortunate to have money, a good job, a nice house, a business, pass an exam, and have a child. Some of these individuals use artificial methods solely for the purpose of having children, while others undergo cosmetic surgery to alter their features. Similar to how Ishmael's blessing is described, God permitted and provided such blessings for man to be blessed, but it was because of human effort, and these blessings are only temporary.

Thus, the individual will discover ways to receive the blessings that God has promised. However, God's plan is distinct from humankind's plan. If your wishes and goals aren't fulfilled, you'll feel disappointed about yourself, which may lead to feelings of resentment, wrath, melancholy, jealousy, and other emotions that might lead to sin and torture you. Due to the intensity of your sinful desire and the fact that you are listening to the whispers of your flesh, you will be guided in that direction, which goes against God's purpose. You will regret what you did if you subsequently realise what you did.

But the everlasting blessing promised by God is our being holy or righteous, which cannot be purchased with money or even based on the good deeds of men or effort, but through the power of the Spirit, similar to that of Isaac. The person who has the Lord Jesus in his life and walks in the Spirit is so blessed because, through this, he or she is holy or righteous in God's eyes or blameless before Him, and this is what grants everlasting life.

GALATIANS 4:28-29 (NLT)

28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

Therefore, regardless of your current circumstances, you are not blessed in regards to material possessions, but you are greatly blessed when Jesus is present in your heart and life, as this is what brings about the everlasting blessing that God promised to Abraham and which He confirmed through Isaac, and you are one of the intended descendants.

We should focus our hearts and minds on heavenly things because they are the things we should treasure and know will last. Yet, earthly things cannot last forever. Hence, let's get rid of whatever is impeding our ability to receive the eternal blessing that will set us free. Because Jesus Christ resides within us, we are not subject to man's will but are instead redeemed children of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

COLOSSIANS 3:2-4 (NLT)

2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

GALATIANS 4:30-31 (NLT)

30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.