(John 4:14)
My wife dragged me to the grocery store last week.
After spending 15 minutes getting all of the things I like, I took them to
the cart and was promptly told why everything I had chosen was no good.
Having no real argument to keep my Twinkies, ice cream, M+Ms, cookies, and
other items of equal non-nutritional value, I took everything back. In the
process, I found myself in the soft drink aisle. It was incredible to look
at the number of various brands of soft drinks, 40 kinds of bottled water,
numerous specialty teas, on and on they went. This was in addition to an
aisle where they had about 100 different kinds of juice drinks, not to
mention good old milk. I started to think about how much we drink every
day. Of course from a physiological standpoint, we need a certain amount of
fluids each day. But I was just thinking about how much we drink, and
drink, and drink, and yet are never really satisfied for very long before we
need to drink some more.
Sin is also an unquenchable thirst. Once we start on a road of sin, we can
never get enough. Even when we are tired of it, we still continue. You see
my friend, when you are involved with the things of this world, you will
never find real satisfaction. There may be a temporary joy, but it is
quickly gone and replaced by emptiness. The Bible says we have ALL sinned
and fallen short of God's glory. We all know what it is to sin. We all
know the temporary "high" sin gives us. But we also know the emptiness when
that short-term high passes, then the guilt and the shame. Sin comes at a
very expensive price. For the little bit you get, it can end up costing you
everything.
My appeal to you today is on a very practical, common sense level. All I
ask is that you are honest with yourself. When you have sex outside of
marriage, whether it is in an adulteress relationship or fornication, there
is a very short period of pleasure involved. All I want you to do is weigh
what it takes to achieve that few seconds of pleasure, and ask yourself if
it is worth it. Is that few seconds worth how you feel afterwards? Or
what about those fighting the sin of alcohol, or drugs, or gambling. When
the buzz, the high wears off, is it worth it? I don't care what the sin is,
the results are the same. There are a few seconds of enjoyment, but at what
price. This doesn't even factor in the consequences down the road.
Unwanted pregnancies, disease, becoming addicted to a certain sinful
lifestyle, losing all of your money, divorce, losing your children, public
shame, destroying your career, the potential disastrous consequences are
endless. All of that for a minimal amount of pleasure from whatever sin
you choose to engage in.
I bring a message like this today because I really do love you and care for
you. Having lived my life for many years in absolute rebellion to God, I can
personally attest to the high price of sin. I can also personally tell you
that when we surrender and live life God's way, under His plan, dedicated
to Him....we find a peace, happiness, joy, and contentment that isn't
possible chasing the things of this world. The things of this world, no
matter how much you get, keep you wanting more. There is a perfect peace in
serving God. A perfect peace when you are fulfilling your God-given purpose
to serve and glorify Him with your life. Jesus spoke of drinking and never
being thirsty again. That water is available to you today. If you are
tired of paying the high price of sin, if you are tired of never being
satisfied, Jesus says come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give
you rest.
I realize that turning from sin is not easy. But God can give you a
game plan, people to hold you accountable, and the strength to be victorious.
I will be praying for you today. Sin simply doesn't make sense. It is like
paying $42,000 for a $1 hamburger. If I am going to pay $42,000, I want a
piece of the farm and the animals. Sin is a bad deal all the way around.
Count on my prayers today that the Lord will quicken this message to your
hearts and help you realize what a bad deal sin is, and how God has
something so much better for you. Sin always leaves you wanting more, but
following Jesus gives you perfect satisfaction.
