I was reminded recently of a word that I myself used a lot in my younger years. I cannot count the numerous times that I used the word “wasted”. There were many weekends that defined this one word, wasted! I would often say, ‘I got so wasted last night,’ or ‘let’s just go get wasted’. Looking back I now see that wasting my life is exactly what I was doing. How loosely and lightly I used that word.
I looked up the meaning, as I always do when God puts a word in my mind, and I got a very clear perspective. The word wasted has four meanings. The first is useless; Useless, because it achieves nothing! Wow, how true that is. Drugs, drinking, and all the partying I did was useless. It gave me no real satisfaction and left me exactly as the next definition states; withered! I was ravaged and shrunken through the sin filled life I led. The next definition is, “not used” or “exploited.” Exploited I was; I let man after man take advantage of me, thinking I was getting my worth through their attention. I exploited myself in so many ways, because my rational thinking went out the door when I was “wasted”. At the end of it all, the last definition is where I would be, and that was “exhausted.” Living a wasted lifestyle left me exhausted from all the exertion I was putting out pursuing sin. Sin always takes from your life in some way. It never adds to your life. It kills not only emotionally but physically and most often it is a slow death. When you are dying slowly you are withered, exhausted and useless. You are living a wasted life.
Thank you God for reminding me of how far you have brought me; and, that you have now given me a life that is no longer wasted, but full of purpose and beauty. I pray for all those who are still in the wasteland. May your great love open their eyes and give them hope.
Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend money on what cannot nourish you and your wages on what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me: Eat what is good, and enjoy the best foods.