I have a simple mind. Maybe that's why chocolate wrappers and tiny things like that speak to me.
This chocolate wrapper especially struck me.
Lose yourself in a moment.
As I read that I was struck by the inconsistencies of the human race. People go to far away colleges and on world-wide voyages to escape current situations so we can "find ourselves," but then when we get there what happens? Dove chocolate tells us to lose ourselves in a moment.
Wait, wait, wait. Are we supposed to find ourselves or lose ourselves?
It is my belief that we "find ourselves" but then want to just as quickly "lose ourselves" (even if only for a moment) because we're actually not happy nor content with our "finding."
I mean, let's be honest, the more we dig into ourselves the unhappier we become as we realize we aren't all there is to life. That's why we (think we have to) go to far away lands to discover what we're really about.
The little chocolate wrapper is partially right though (and therein lies its danger). You do need to lose yourself. "Lose," as in 86 your life, nix yourself, give yourself the slip.
"And (Jesus) said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." (Luke 9:23-24 ESV)
In contrast to the glorious inheritance we receive upon losing ourselves for the Lord's sake, "finding ourselves" just isn't that glamourous.
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say we have not sinned, we make [God] a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:8,10 ESV)
"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool." (Proverbs 28:26 ESV)
"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." (Mark 7:21-23 ESV)
"And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." (Mark 10:18 ESV)
The list of verses proving our depravity go on. We have to first lose ourselves and our pride before we can realize and accept the fact that we are a helpless and hopeless people without the grace and mercy of the holy and just God of the universe.
So I admonish you to indeed lose yourselves.
Don't gain the whole world and lose your soul.
Instead, lose yourself in the greatest exchange of all times; not to escape or evade the reality of this present life, but to accept the pardon of a gracious and perfect God who sent His Son to die for our sinful and wicked selves.
Studies show that 10 out of 10 people die, so what will it profit you if you base all happiness on something (this life) you will one day lose? Therefore, lose your life now so you may keep it for eternity, that is what God is asking of you today.
Ironically enough, a synonym for "lose" is unburden.
Therefore, unburden yourself and turn to Jesus, the One who bore your burden so you wouldn't have to.
May it one day be said of you:
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:1-9 ESV)
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