“lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17).
The Bible’s candid assessment of those who value earthly treasures and pleasures over spiritual blessings ought to arrest your attention.
Esau–the firstborn twin of Isaac and Rebekah–was a man who lived for the here-and-now. Carpe diem (“Seize the day”) was his mindset on the day he sold his spiritual birthright for a meal of stew and bread (Genesis 25:29-34). The Scriptures call him a profane (or godless) man.
The rich farmer Jesus brings to life in his parable (see Luke 12:16-21) believed spiritual fulfillment could be derived from material accumulations. He covetously lived for the here-and-now and envisioned an earthly future in which he could ever take his ease by eating, drinking, and being merry. Yet, God called him a “Fool” (Luke 12:20).
The fornicator who chooses to defile the sanctity of the marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4) so to have an illicit taste of the passing pleasures of sexual sin soon learns that the way of the transgressor is hard (Proverbs 13:15). This idolatrous approach to one’s sexuality is dishonorable (Hebrews 13:4), deadly (Proverbs 5:21-23), and damnable (Revelation 21:8).
Profane. Godless. Fool.
Sadly, the pages of Scripture and history are littered with many profane, godless fools.
Don’t be a person like Esau.
