The Skinny on Sin

So I was talking with a friend the other day who has been committed to a strict weight loss/exercise program. I was trying to talk them into eating my other double-steak cheeseburger, with every conceivable topping from Steak N Shake. I'd already eaten one, and was still trying to finish off my fries. Some friend I am! Trying to persuade this diligent friend to break their "vow"! In the end, they declined, and I, being the glutton I am, laid around in a comatose state for the next 16 hours due to my indulgence. But during our talk about dieting, while I was wiping the extra cheese, mayo, mustard, relish, and pickle from behind my ear, I couldn't help but remember something that was said. "Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels.". Interesting thought. Now I love McDonalds fries like every other grease-loving American, but this deserves some attention. In other words, the determination to be healthy, to feel healthy, as well as it's effect on my well-being is of greater importance than the temporary "taste" of something sweet or fattening. I cannot understand this, because I have some crazy form of sickness that prevents me from having the normal American "extra" that helps my pants stay up.

Truth be told, that same concept can apply to other parts of our life. One thought that I couldn't get away from was how man's eating habits mirror man's propensity to sin. To clarify, sin is this: doing what I know I shouldn't, as well as not doing what I know I should. Scripture teaches that sin is bound within all of us....that we all have this inherent knack for doing something we shouldn't. But, through the example lived out by Jesus, and by His death that cleansed our sin, we can choose a "healthier" life style. This is my point: Though I have the freedom to go out and live an immoral lifestyle that gratifies my nature and flesh, nothing tastes as good as being "clean" feels. Clean in my soul, clean in my conscience, clean from the impurities that drag me down. Clean. Ever been really, really dirty after a long hard day? No, I mean so dirty that you could jump against a wall and stick. Ever felt so dirty that you went and rolled on the ground so you could spiffy up a little? You want more than anything to wash away the filth and have this sense of "clean". Our souls long for this too.....to be clean.

Anyone else ever felt guilty for obliterating an entire tub of Ben & Jerry's ice cream? Now that's good stuff. Phish food is by far the best flavor. Don't try arguing with me....this is my post and if you want to praise some other flavor then go make your own post! Guilt is a powerful emotion. Some people are trapped in guilt, and don't even know it. They live day to day mired down by their choices. I'm not saying guilt is a bad thing, because it's something God placed in us as a litmus test. But for the person that is constantly making poor choices, it is a heavy, heavy burden. Unhealthy eating habits lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. Unhealthy decisions also lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. So what does this have to do with sin and my double-cheeseburger? It is this: I love having a clear conscience. No sinful indulgence of this world is equal to the peace that comes with knowing that to the best of my ability I have tried to do what is right. Does this make me a better or more perfect person? By no means! I still have to deal with sin like everyone else. But just as the person that diligently sticks to a healthy diet is able to resist that chocolate double-fudge sundae, so can the Christian who daily chooses that which is better. The dieter looks at the sundae and says "that would be good....but feeling healthy is better".

The Christian looks at sin and says as well..."that would be good....but the peace that passes all understanding is much better". May you be a Christian that can turn away from the wordly desires....not by denying yourself, but rather by desiring instead that which is better. Because I can tell you with full certainty that being able to walk around without a load of guilt is 100 times greater than the dieter that has lost 50 pounds. It is a weight that has been lifted. It is a burden that Christ has taken for you. Choose what is right. Choose what is healthy. Choose what it is better....you'll be so glad you did.

God bless