But It Tastes So Good

By Pastor E

Earlier this week I had lunch with our youth worship director to set up and plan for our upcoming youth service. As I was looking at the pictures on their menu my eyes landed on this enormous bacon burger with cheese. Although certainly not a “heart healthy” selection, my stomach was saying yes! The menu painted a beautiful picture of a mouth-watering burger with crispy bacon and dripping cheese–I could almost taste it. My senses were going crazy. I just couldn’t resist.  

For those that know me, this is one burger that I should not be eating. It definitely did not fit into my dietary restrictions for my heart issues. In fact, this was one of the worst things I could be eating. But even knowing the possible consequences, I had every excuse in the book ready to justify ordering it. My desire outweighed my knowledge and responsibility. “It’s just this one time.” “I’ve been good for the past couple months, I deserve this.” And even, “One burger won’t kill me.” These were just some of the thoughts I had as I justified my inability to resist and negotiated myself into doing what I knew I should not do….

Brothers and sisters, this is the way the devil tempts us into sin. He takes our unhealthy desires and places them in front of us like a big, juicy burger with cheese. He opens up the menu, shows us the pictures of all the things we can have to fulfill those desires. Even though we know in our hearts that the things on the menu are not what God wants for us, those temptations can become overwhelming, leading us to compromise and justify our actions. Even though we know full well the consequences of those actions, the menu is just too amazing to resist and the devil smirks as our flesh makes choices we will soon regret. “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” Romans 7:19.

The devil’s days are numbered and he knows how the story ends, so he is working overtime to “take” as much as he can in the little time that he has left. Scripture tells us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” 1 Peter 5:8. We have to be on our guard at all times, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” 1 Peter 5:9.

Although the menu that the devil tempts us with may indeed look appetizing and pleasing to our imperfect human desires, ultimately they lead to hurt, destruction, lies, and failure before our righteous and holy God. The devil has one agenda, “he comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10. What he has to offer may look and taste good at first but you can bet that it will come with a cost that is bitter. We must have the mind of Christ at all times, stand our ground in the face of temptation, and live into the truth that Jesus “has come that they (we) may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10b.

Don’t give the devil a foothold in your life by giving into temptation that brings death and emptiness, but rather focus on the life-giving truth of our Lord Savior, living into his goodness in everything we do. “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” Romans 8:6.

Next time I think I will order the grilled chicken with a side salad. 

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