The Sweetness of Sin

I stopped at Starbucks for a Frappuccino today. (Odd, I know)

During the hot summer days, there is only one drink I get…  A Venti Caramel Frappuccino Light with Sugar Free Syrup and light whip and drizzle.  My mouth watered just typing those words.

<pausing for composure>

Ok, I’m back.  Anyway, when I took my first sip I knew something wasn’t right.  Oh my, this drink was decadent and rich.  The whip cream was thick and creamy.  The caramel drizzle was oozy and tasty.

I knew I had the wrong drink.

But… just to make sure, I took another drink.  Yup.  Same experience as the first sip.  This was definitely not the drink I had ordered.  I decided on one last try… just to be certain.  Slurp.  Yes.  Same drink and still not my “usual.”

This drink was the “fully loaded” version… and I loved it!

As I headed towards Walmart, I contemplated the situation.  Do I drink it and act like it’s not a big deal… just this one time?  Or do I stand my ground and have them correct their mistake so I can have my usual “unleaded” version?

I took yet another sip as I was working through the pros and cons.  Hey, cut me some slack…  Sugar helps me think.  🙂

At the last moment, I whipped into another Starbucks and had them rectify the situation.  I walked out with MY Frapp… the one I always order because I know it’s better for me.  And I was relieved that I didn’t completely give into the temptation of that “fully loaded” Frappuccino.

Are you wondering how I’m going to make the jump to a life application lesson?  Watch this…

It’s dangerous for us to sip the short-lived sweetness of sin, because before we know it… we will want more.  And we’ll justify our need to sip again.  And then we’ll have to sip one more time… just to make sure.  And eventually, we won’t care it’s the wrong drink and we’ll slurp it down… salivating for more.

That’s how sin works.

So what’s the answer when “what we want” in our flesh and “what we need” in our spirits don’t align?

We need our Heavenly Barista!  He makes the best Frapps in the house.  He always adds the right amount of the perfect ingredient at the right time.  He knows when to top us off.  He knows when to cut us off.

I wonder… are you caught up in the sweetness of “some” sin in your life?  Maybe some of you know exactly what I am talking about, but maybe for others God is revealing it to you right now.  Don’t let my silly coffee example diminish the seriousness of sin and how incredibly destructive it can be.

So, what do you do if you’re done with “that” sin?

1. Confess it to God… asking for forgiveness and praying for healing and restoration
2. Tell a trusted friend who you know has conquered a specific sin so they can act as your accountability partner
3. Avoid the places, people and things of temptation
4. Spend time in the Word and time seeking Him

You might be wondering how can you can actually pray to a perfect God about “this” sin and “those” temptations.  Well, here’s how.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

While we don’t live in a perfect world… we serve a perfect God… who always provide the perfect way.  🙂

Friends, beware of the sweetness of sin.

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