“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” James 1:14
I looked up…and there it was. So part of my nightly ritual is to take my nighttime meds. I keep all my medicines on the bottom shelf in a corner cabinet in the kitchen. I looked up to reach up and get my medicine container thing and that’s when I saw it. On the second shelf sat a clear plastic container. It had been there forever but on this particular night, I looked and saw a miniature Heath bar. I like Heath bars–a lot.
Now there was a time when I could easily resist Heath bars. When I was about eight or nine, I misread the name of the candy bar. It said Heath but I saw Health and I said to myself, “Who wants a health bar?” Well, eventually I figured it out and discovered this British toffee bar covered with chocolate. I loved them. So naturally, after taking my medicine, I reached up, got the container and snagged the miniature candy bar.
Now I knew there was a really good chance that the candy bar was way, way out of date but I also figured that since it was toffee and chocolate that probably wouldn’t matter. I was wrong. I quickly unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth and chomped down. What happened next was between horrible and super gross. It turned out Heath bars can definitely go out of date. The chocolate was bitter and no longer tasted like chocolate…in fact, I’m not sure what it tasted like besides terrible. The toffee was even worse. No longer crunchy, it was a mushy mess that tasted rancid…like spoiled meat. I didn’t know what to do.
Well, I ended up doing my best to chew it up and swallow it…which was not easy. I then went to the sink and rinsed my mouth out. It was gone, some in my stomach and some down the drain but the foul taste lingered in my mouth even after brushing my teeth. Talk about a bad food experience–this was definitely one. The crazy part is that my common sense should have told me to either taste a small part or just chuck it but my common sense was over ruled by my desire for a Heath bar. Bad choice, Dewayne, bad choice.
Bad choices like this one fortunately didn’t carry any lasting effect but it could have. Can someone say, “food poisoning?” But check this out. A rotten candy bar is one thing but sin, any sin, is a whole different matter. Sin can look plenty attractive–just ask Eve. But sin always has consequences. Granted sometimes they are smaller but always they are costly. The wisest thing we can do is “just say no.” I sure wish I had left that candy bar in the container or better yet chucked it in the trash. But in my mind, I just had to have it. Wrong again.
So the next time sin presents it and winks at you and looks oh so attractive, don’t believe and don’t buy. Sin never speaks the truth and is never a bargain. The good news your Dearest Daddy hates sin and wants you to avoid it at all cost. If you will just hit the pause button and ask He will deliver you…every single time. Yup, you can rest assured that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 