Living or Pancakes?

Isaiah 55.1-2

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Isaiah is saying something amazing here that can be later referenced to Jesus in John 4 and 6.  Jesus told a Samaritan woman that he was the source of living water, and to the disciples in John 6 he said he is the bread of life.  When we have the opportunity to sink our teeth into the richness of delight in him, we will not be disappointed.  The problem that I have is exactly what is shown in verse 2.  I alway spend my life (you could say waste my life) on everything that does not satisfy.  I adulterously chase everything, but the Lord, knowing that he is the greatest taste my soul will know.

The worst of it is exactly what Isaiah says, I am the one spending the money on it.  It’s not that I happen to come across things that are not as satisfying as the Lord, it is far worse.  I haplessly pursue the other dissatisfying, soul-robbing trinkets, and then pay for them.  I pay with time, attention, dedication, allegiance, and yes, money.  I throw my affections at these grotesque nothings, only to be left unsatisfied.  The hymn is correct -

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

-H. Lemmel