10/29/17 A METAPHOR FROM LIFE

10/29/17 A METAPHOR FROM LIFE

I don't know about you, but I (as well as my grandchildren) have occasionally taken a bite of something (because it looked good or because I heard how good it was or I wanted to please someone else), and initially I liked it, but very quickly it became distasteful. It could have been the taste or the texture or the smell, but it did not measure up to my first impression.

In fact, there have been occasions that I hurriedly spit it out and rinsed my mouth. (Now you see why I mentioned my grandchildren. It is something that happens more with children than with adults).

Sin (self pleasing, selfishness) is the same way. We do that which is sinful BECAUSE WE WANT TO do it, BECAUSE WE CHOOSE TO do it. Some sins are pleasing from the beginning, however, some sins are initially distasteful, and are more like an acquired taste, requiring us to repeat the action several times before we actually enjoy it. But eventually the sin not only becomes palatable but preeminent, essential, habitual, controlling.

Still, sin is a poison that humans want to throw off because we were not designed to be sinners and also because God's Spirit reminds us of this, even when we choose to ignore His nudgings.

God said it this way...
Proverbs 20:17
(17) Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Sin is not satisfying, though the Bible tells us that there is pleasure in sin for a season. But the season of sinful pleasure eventually comes to an eternal ending.

BEWARE THE WAY OF SIN
The best way to avoid a bitter ending is to never start with tasting sin.
The first revulsion of sin is God warning us to stop immediatly
If a person tastes of sin and continues in it, God convicts him quietly in the inner man.
If a person persists in pursuing prurient pleasures and becomes addicted to his rebellion, God will still call that person to repentance, even as that person drifts further from the call of God.
Eventually the sinner is so thoroughly ensnared by his sin that he seldom recognizes the voice of God calling him.
The grossest and most vile of sins takes possession of the sinner until the sinner will not hear the voice of God.
Ultimately the rebel is in torment forever, unable to enjoy the pleasures of sin, but equally unwilling to turn to God.

James 1:12-15
(12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
(13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
(15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.