Second Best

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. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:1-7 ESV).

In David Wilcox’s "Eye of the Hurricane," he sings about a young woman who has given up on finding what she really wants in life:

"Hope is gone," she confessed;
When you lay your dream to rest,
You can get what’s second best;
But it’s hard to get enough."

That’s the trouble with everything in life that’s second best. It tastes good at first but quickly becomes bitter; it’s initially exciting but eventually boring; it’s never fulfilling and always addictive; it’s a nightmare that begins when we surrender our best dreams, and it has haunted the human heart since the dawn of time.

In today’s Scripture the prophet Isaiah recorded this invitation from God: Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul! Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty" (cf. John 6:35).

Jesus offers a life that really satisfies. Giving ourselves to Christ is choosing God’s best. You can do it today, no matter how badly you’ve damaged your yesterdays. "Second best" is not some kind of lifelong curse that accompanies a bad decision. We make many important choices with powerful consequences, but they should not condemn us to perpetual discouragement. Today, tomorrow, and every day to come, it’s possible to embrace God’s best and walk with Him along the pathway of joy. "Now choose life . . . that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life" (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Today can be a new beginning for you. And that’s the best!