There are few things more satisfying on Planet Earth than comfort foods, usually made of sugar, flour, dairy, and starches, and typically not green. Let’s be honest; most of us eat and drink to satisfy our emotional appetite—called ‘guilty (or sinful) pleasures.’
While people have always had emotional affairs with food, new anti-obesity laws could become as threatening as prohibition was to alcohol. In what could be a model for other cities or states, NY City Mayor Bloomberg wants to pass a bill limiting the size of sodas sold in NY City to 16 ounces. While no one can deny the obesity problem, does anyone really believe increased regulation will reduce waistlines? And ironically, while nutritionists are telling us to eat healthy, the sugar-and-butter seducing Food Network shows are more popular than ever.
Truth be told, food cravings are an expression of the legitimate longings of human beings. While sugar may satisfy that longing temporarily, until people know what those longings represent, and begin to meet them in personal relationship with Jesus, passing heartless laws won’t make a hint of a difference. Unfortunately, nutritionists and politicians will find that hard to swallow.
With few exceptions (for example, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses), the Old Testament “believers” didn’t get too close to God. Do you remember how afraid the Israelites were at Mt. Sinai? They said to Moses, “you go, and we’ll stay here," (Ex. 20:21), preferring to maintain a safe distance. Even the “High Priest” entered the Holy of Holies once a year with feelings of trepidation, taking the blood offering to God on behalf of those who remained in the outer court, at a safe distance.
So it was an extraordinary event when Jesus was crucified and the veil that separated the worshippers from God was torn in half, signifying that believers now have the privilege of worshiping God up close and personal. The distance between God and man was at once and forever eliminated.
I once saw a bumper sticker that read, “If you’re feeling far away from God, guess who moved?” Don't let your feelings keep you away from God. James promises that if you “draw near to God, He will draw near to you.” (4:8) And the writer of Hebrews says "let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water" (10:22).
Who has not at sometime (or many times?) in their walk with God uttered these infamous words, “Don’t you care?” They are spoken when there seems to be a universal conspiracy to make your life miserable. Most famously, Martha spoke these words, “don’t you care,” when Jesus’ actions seemed unfair (Luke 10:41).
One of my favorite teachers, Zac Poonen, says his life was transformed when he realized that Jesus, as a man, was tempted in all ways that we are (Heb. 2:18; 4:15). And Poonen thinks many people do not really believe that Jesus was tempted like us, believing that Jesus’ temptations were different—because he was God. Well, since God cannot be tempted, it has to be that Jesus was tempted as a man—just like us.
The “don’t you care” that comes out of us when we are frustrated reveals how we see Jesus. If we don’t believe that He understands our feelings, we won’t see Him as one who cares. The next time you are tempted to say “don’t you care,” remember what Peter (who knew Jesus as a man before he knew Him as God) said: “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
There’s something about country western music that is so heartrending! Like Billy Ray Cyrus’ signature song “Achy Breaky Heart," or the less familiar “You Done Tore out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat.” But it is not only the country western genre that evokes the ‘you broke my heart’ topic—losing control of one’s heart is a universal theme. (Who can forget Tony Bennet’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” or Elton’s John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”)
When the Bible refers to the heart, however, you can be sure it is not referring to sappy emotions. Used interchangeably with the word “soul,” the heart means your thoughts and feelings, desires and affections, decisions and choices. So when God asks for your heart, he's asking for everything. When he controls your heart, He controls you: your hopes, dreams, thoughts, plans and priorities: all of it. And unlike the sad singers who lost their hearts to fickle lovers, you can be sure your heart is always safe with Him.
I am tempted to be discouraged when the things I would like to change take a long time. You know that expression, "two steps forward, one step back"? That's how we all feel, isn't it!God told Israel they would conquer the nations before them “little by little.” Taking possession of your “Canaan”—the salvation of your soul—is also accomplished “little by little.” Our soul’s faculties—mind, emotion, and will—are gradually changed by the Holy Spirit as we give Him control. Our “new self,” under the Spirit’s control, is available for His use—and it is less and less under the control of “me.” Paul employs the same “little by little” concept in his writings with the term “walking.” But using Paul’s language, we might say we grow “step by step.” “Walking” means one’s conduct, behavior, and general manner of living—all that makes up a person’s philosophy, values, and consequent choices and actions. Just as we learned to walk in the natural world, step by step, with more than a little stumbling, we learn to walk spiritually. But this requires faith and patience. And TIME!
Divine work and “time” partner together. God put us “in time” for a reason. He uses “time” to build character. He uses “time” to accomplish His purposes, i.e., Jesus was born in the “fullness of time.” It will take time for you to “know” the truth. And time to practice the truth. And, by the way, there are no shortcuts. Again and again, Paul uses the words “endurance” and “patience.” If it was not going to take “time” for us to grow and change, there would be no need of “endurance” and “patience.” Squash plants sprout overnight and grow to maturity within weeks. Great oak trees take years to mature. What do you want to be: a squash or an oak?
