Although I will never bemoan the blessing of getting older, I have to admit there are certain aspects of it I would rather do without. My eyes that tire when reading way faster than they used to. The soundtrack of pops and creaks my joints make every time I walk up the stairs now. The gray hair creeping into my dark locks that looks in no way as distinguished as my husband’s.
But perhaps the most frustrating thing I’ve encountered is the change to my digestive system. Slowly but surely, over the past few years, I have become lactose intolerant.
Milk, cheese, ice cream–especially ice cream–now has an unpleasant and painful after effect, causing me to cut almost all dairy products from my diet. Or, rather, it should have caused me to cut almost all dairy products from my diet.
But ice cream is a really, really hard thing to say no to.
On those days when I crave in, I know what’s coming. I understand that this fleeting, temporary, creamy chocolate and vanilla goodness is going to haunt me in a few hours, when I am bowled over with stomach cramps and indigestion. I know this. But, on those days when the craving and temptation gets intense, the threat of “after” is never strong enough to stop me.
Kind of sounds a lot like sin, doesn’t it?
It would much easier to avoid temptation if sin didn’t look so doggone good and bring so much pleasure. But that’s what makes sin so dangerous. If sin scratched my skin or gouged my eyes or broke my legs, I wouldn’t be tempted to do it, would I? Likewise, if sin looked ugly or putrid or evil, it would be pretty easy to run the other direction.
Unfortunately, sin often plays out a lot like ice cream (at least in my case): it looks good. It smells good (hello, hot fudge!). And the experience of eating it is oh so lovely.
It’s not until afterward that it’s true nature is revealed.
Perhaps that is why “sin acceptance” is so prevalent in our culture today. So many of what the Bible declares are sins feel good. So good, in fact, that it’s become popular to rationalize and even justify their occurrence in our lives.
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:22)
But I’ve been so stressed out with work and the kids. Alcohol helps me to relax and have a good time. I always feel better after a few drinks.
“You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)
But I just don’t love my spouse anymore. He/she doesn’t make me happy. This other person does. I just feel better when I’m with him/her.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
But my money is my money. I don’t need to share it or be generous. It makes me feel good to buy everything I want to buy.
Did you happen to notice the common thread within every single one of these sins–drunkenness, sexual immorality, and greed? They all feel good in the moment. There is pleasure to be found in giving into the temptation.
But how long does that good feeling last?
Drunkenness leads, not only to physical ailments, but also family strife, career issues, and sometimes legal ramifications. Affairs break up families, destroy trust, and often lead to a pattern of infidelity over generations. The hoarding of money (or, conversely, stuff) very rarely leads to peace but rather brings about the exacerbation of fear and loss.
As Thomas á Kempis writes in The Imitation of Christ:
“‘But,’ you may say, ’What about those who find such pleasure and delight when they give in to temptations?’ To be sure, there is pleasure for them, but how long does it last? It is like smoke — it vanishes quickly. Soon even the memory of the joy is gone. They will never find rest, and they will live in bitterness and weariness and fear.
The very thing they think will bring them joy will bring them sorrow; that which they think will bring them pleasure will bring them only pain. Because of their blindness and numbness they may never see or feel how miserable they are. They may not even know that their soul is slowly dying.”
You see, any pleasure that we derive from sin–i.e. those things not of God–is not true pleasure at all. The world would like you to think that pleasure is anything that makes you feel good in the moment; true pleasure derives from being in right standing with the One who gave you life.
á Kempis continued:
“But, if you want to have true delight, here is the way: have contempt for all worldly things and all lower delights, and rich consolation will, in turn, be given to you. In proportion as you withdraw yourself from the love of these things, so you will find consolations from God much more sweet and potent.”
Yes, sin may offer us fleeting, momentary pleasure. But don’t believe the lies that our life consists only in our fickle, short-lived feelings. No excuses or justification of fleeting pleasure can ever match up to an eternity of true happiness with God. Temptation will inevitably come, but that does not mean we must give in to it, nor accept the notion that it is not dangerous because passing delight can be found in its depths. Rather:
“If we made an effort to stand firmly and courageously in the struggle, doubtless we should see the help of our Lord from heaven, for he is ready to help those who trust in his grace; he gives us occasions to fight that we may win. If our spiritual progress relies only on outward observances, our devotion will not last long. Let us lay the axe to the root, so that being purged of unruly passions we may have peace of mind…this outside comfort is no small detriment to the inner comfort that comes from God…Finally, I want to teach you the way of peace and true liberty. There are four things you must do. First, strive to do another’s will rather than your own. Second, choose always to have less than more. Third, seek the lower places in life, dying to the need to be recognized and important. Fourth, always and in everything desire that the will of God may be completely fulfilled in you. The person who tries this will be treading the frontiers of peace and rest.”
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