He (Moses)chose to be
mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of
sin for a short time. Hebrews 11:25 NIV
As I was coming around the bend in our street from
walking my son to school, I could see the front window of our house. The sheer
curtains in the living room were astir. I saw a collie's head peek out and then
disappear after glancing in my direction. Oh, oh I thought, what are they up to?
As I entered the front foyer and cocked my head around
to view the living area I saw toffee wrappers scattered all over the rug. No
toffees. No dogs. Just wrappers everywhere.
After pulling off my boots I walked through the
kitchen to the cellar stairs. At the bottom of the stairway sat three very
guilty looking dogs. In fact the puppy was valiantly still chewing and trying to
swallow a mouthful of ooey, gooey English toffees.
The dogs all knew that the toffees were off limits.
Obviously however the temptation won the day as they had wrestled the lid off
the tin and helped themselves and oh how good those candies tasted. The next day
however if dogs know anything about regret, I'm sure that's exactly what they
were doing.....regretting their folly. What had tasted so good at the time was
now wreaking havoc with their digestive systems.
Have you ever noticed how the pleasures of sin can
taste so pleasant for a short time? I don't expect there are many, if any of us
around who if we are honest, can answer anything but yes, to such a question.
When all is said and done however, how we wish with all our heart that we had
listened to and obeyed God and His ways.
For just as I had tried to teach the dogs to stay away
from things which I knew would be harmful to them, God's words of wisdom , are
for our good not our woe. Since time began however, people have sought to break
the laws of God, only to discover they only break themselves upon them. And
though God is merciful and his grace is sufficient to forgive and cleanse even
the worst of offenders, the actions of sin always bring their own unique
consequences to our lives.
The pleasures of sin can taste good for a season. But
the pleasures of righteousness last for eternity. Moses chose well. He shunned
the short lived pleasures of instant gratification for the eternal promises of
God and was not disappointed. Which will we choose today the short lived
pleasures of instant gratification or eternal joy?
Prayer: Father God, bless us with strength and wisdom
to choose wisely today as we will have many decisions to make. May our thoughts,
words and actions line up with yours that the eternal pleasures of righteousness
may be first and foremost in all our choices. In Christ's name we ask. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
lynnephipps@hotmail.com
Atlin, BC
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