Sin can be pleasurable. Anyone who tells you different is lying. The Bible even tells us that sin is pleasant for a while, but obeying God is so much more pleasant.
Hebrews 11:25- Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
When our flesh goes after what it wants, there are always consequences. Some aren't seen until much later. Think about Jonathan, if you will. Where did his life end?
II Samuel 1:23- Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
How wonderful a eulogy from David. But, that is not where Jonathan should have been. His life was cut short because he decided to follow his flesh instead of God. Where was Jonathan suppose to be?
I Samuel 23:17- And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
Jonathan told David that he was suppose to be with him. Think of all the stories that the Bible could have had about the adventures of David and Jonathan! He was suppose to help David during his reign, but his life ended before David's reign even began. Why? Because Jonathan chose to stay with Saul- he chose his flesh.
Perhaps it was fear of what people would say about him. Or maybe, it was worry about how it would make his dad feel. It could have been that he saw how David would have to run and hide and he didn't want that kind of life. We don't know what the reason was, but we do know the consequences of his actions.
But it didn't end with him. His son, Mephibosheth, ended up lame when his family fled after the war. He never got to know his father. What a sad life because his dad decided what he wanted was more important than what God wanted.
Our decisions not only effect us. They effect those around us. We end up hurting the ones we delude ourselves that we are protecting when we put them ahead of what God tells us to do.
This is the price I pay --
Just for one riotous day --
Years of regret and of grief,
And sorrow without relief.
Suffer it I will, my friend,
Suffer it until the end,
Until the grave shall give relief.
Small was the thing I bought,
Small was the thing at best,
Small was the debt, I thought,
But, O God! -- the interest.
Just for one riotous day --
Years of regret and of grief,
And sorrow without relief.
Suffer it I will, my friend,
Suffer it until the end,
Until the grave shall give relief.
Small was the thing I bought,
Small was the thing at best,
Small was the debt, I thought,
But, O God! -- the interest.
-Paul Lawrence Dunbar
In every situation in the Bible where people choose their flesh, God put an escape there for them. Someone to warn them. Something to distract them. And in every situation, they decided to ignore God.
I Corinthians 10:13- There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's the same God that asked Abraham to leave his country. It's the same God that chose David as King over Israel. It's the same God that guided Paul on his missionary journeys. And it's the same God that wants to help you accomplish His will for your life. He's given you everything you need! You just have to deny your flesh and obey Him.
