The Parable of the Ebay Ad

In case you haven't noticed, ebay, the online auction super-site, is currently running ads touting it's vast inventory of merchandise with the slogan, "Whatever it is ... You can get it on ebay." In many ways the ebay advertising crew is right. Because ebay acts as a hub for people of the world to sell their wares over the internet, good chances are that what you're looking for can probably be found on ebay.

Just for fun I did a search on some really obscure items in hopes that ebay wouldn't be offering them. Now keep in mind, these are not necessarily items I desire (so don't get any crazy ideas about what I want for my next birthday).

- "Time, Love & Tenderness" by Michael Bolton (1991): 27 CD's for sale
- "Packers Cheese-Head Hat": 16 for sale (My sister is a huge Green Bay fan)
- "Donald Duck Bobblehead Figure" 1 for sale
- "Crocheted Elmo Hat": 1 available at the time of this writing
- "Water Babies" (1978): 4 available (a movie I only saw once as a child)

How about a relationship with God? Can you get that on ebay? I can undoubtedly tell you that this priceless gift is not for sale on ebay or any other website. Nevertheless, there are so many people in the world who are searching for "it" and they don't even know what "it" is. There's just this void they feel in their lives that they often try to fill with the pursuit of fame, fortune, beauty, success, or other temporary ideals. Others seek to dull the emptiness with addictions. But no matter what we do, if we do not encounter the "real thing", we will always be left with a feeling of emptiness and unfulfillment.

There is only one place where we will find the true love and acceptance that we are looking for and that is in a personal relationship with God. We were all born with a God sized 'hole in our hearts' that can only be filled by God Himself. The good news is that God wants to be in a relationship with us more than we want to be in a relationship with Him. The One who knew us before we were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5) and knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) wants to be our heavenly Father. While we are His offspring by creation, His desire is that we might become His children through redemption in Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13).

The best part is that you can directly talk with God. Can you believe it?! The Creator of the entire universe wants to hear from you and help you in your daily life! In Matthew 7:7-11 we read, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" So take Him up on His invitation and let God fill that void that perhaps you may have been trying to satisfy by shopping on ebay.

Stay the course, finish the race ... AB

(Next Week: The Parable of the Bubblegum Machine)