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Every Box Comes Prepackaged with One of These
“It’s all about the packaging”

I have never purchased a gift for my wife from Tiffany’s, but that iconic Tiffany blue packaging would be a dead giveaway.  How many products are marketed to us that’s all about the packaging?  Many of those leave us disappointed the moment their taken out of the box.  As a kid my brother and I would meander up and down the cereal aisle not looking at nutritional facts but rather looking at the prize inside.  Every time the picture way over sold the toy.  No matter how many times my brother and I were disappointed by that cereal box toy we kept hoping that for $1.29 there would be something great inside.
This is satan’s only play.  He is the prince of lies.  Everything he temps us with is a paper thin, cardboard fake that’s designed to lead us down a path to self-destruction.  The problem is that inside every box is one of these — a consequence.  Every time satan convinces you to open one of his “gifts” you loose something: your reputation, your wealth, your relationships.

The Contrast

God’s gifts may not always have the glitz, but they never have strings attached.  They are always unconditional and always exceed all expectations.  Here are just a few of God’s gifts:  The gift of a Savior, The gift of God’s love, The gift of God’s grace, The gift of God’s peace, The gift of God’s Holy Spirit, The gift of a brand-new life, The gift of freedom from bondage and sin, The gift of supernatural strength, The gift of purpose, The gift of prayer/ direct access to God, The gift of hope.  Every time you open one of God’s gifts you unlock something new and exciting in your life: a deeper relationship, a new friendship, a new opportunity, wisdom, health. 

Fantasy is always perfect, reality never is.

I always thought this statement was true, but it left me feeling like reality. was lacking.  Here’s what I’ve learned; reality may not be perfect, but it’s REAL.  If you focus on the fantasies, you’ll likely start thinking that God is getting in the way of your happiness.  Satan will have you convinced that you must make a choice, either be happy or do it God’s way.  (That’s why pornography is so dangerous)

Focusing on Happiness My Unlock the Secret

We are on a happiness quest, and if that quest involves what’s and not who’s your going to wind up broke and lonely.  I remember a fall visit to my brother’s home in Virginia.  My twin brother came, and all our kids joined us.  His son is 5 weeks older than mine and his daughter is a few months younger than mine.  He drove and was able to bring skateboards and helmets for all of us.  One of my favorite pictures is the six of us coasting down a long hill in our brother’s neighborhood.  It was all about the who.  Sure, we had the what’s, but I don’t remember the brand or even the colors.  Give me the most expensive Landyacht and you’ll never come close to recreating the magic of that moment.  Without the who’s your left with just a fantasy.
When you know what makes life happy and how share happiness it becomes easy to see how useless the enemies packages are and how to avoid the consequences that accompany them.
C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither.”