(No tear sheet)
According to the manufacturer, nearly 16,000 Smarties are eaten every minute. That is about 960,000 per hour and about 23 million per day. Since at least 3/4 of the world’s population do not have access to Smarties, a few people are consuming a great deal of candy.
The candy industry would not exist apart from our craving for sweets. For some, a penchant for sugar becomes an addiction, causing problems with weight gain and nutrition. I’ve noticed that eating sugar kills my appetite for carrots, corn, broccoli, oranges, bananas and other fresh fruit and vegetables. To put it simply, the body confuses its hunger for nutrients with its sweet tooth. In no time, a good diet becomes a craving for junk food.
Every now and then, I get angry with myself and determine to stop eating sweets. The first week or so is awful but once the cravings stop, I can manage without desserts. . . for a month or so. Then I just have to have something sweet. My conclusion is that the body needs a certain amount. The problem is maintaining moderation. Like eating salted peanuts, it is difficult to stop at just one.
In an article about addictions, TIME magazine says that the twelve-step program seems to be the most helpful. This program was made popular by Alcoholics Anonymous and is now used by other groups trying to overcome obsessive or addictive behaviors.
These twelve steps begin with admission of need and taking ownership of the problem. They go on to acknowledging that the problem is bigger than one’s own ability to solve it. A “higher power” is needed, sometimes referred to as “God, however you perceive him.”
Although many twelve-step programs use terminology designed to include all religions, participants think of God as this higher power, and suitably so — the steps are biblical in their general form. They were originally prescribed by Him as part of His remedy for sin, the most destructive and insidious addiction of all.
To overcome sin, a person must recognize that it is not only a problem but their problem. It is easy to point fingers or shift blame yet we cannot conquer it by passing it off as “not a big deal,” “everyone does it,” or “I am not really so bad.” The Bible says “the wages of sin is death.”
Anyone who takes the battle against sin seriously soon finds out it is more difficult to stop sinning than to stop eating salted peanuts or sweets. Just when we think we have made progress, we slip again. Like an alcoholic cannot think themselves cured, we cannot think this problem is behind us. We also need to acknowledge that we cannot do anything ourselves, that sin is bigger than our determination to avoid it or our good efforts to replace it.
To make matters worse, even if we have some success, pride moves in, and pride is sin. The challenge is not to reform outward behavior, which may or may not last, but receive inner purification and a change of heart about our problem.
God provides both through Christ, the One who is totally pure. He not only died for us, that our sins may be forgiven, but He also comes to live in the hearts of those who believe in Him. When He does that, we are given divine desire and power to fight sin. The Bible says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.” It also explains that the promises of God combined with the power of the indwelling Christ help us “escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
For some, this can be an instant escape. Others struggle longer against their addictions as they learn how to rely on the Lord and not their own strength. However, the battle to stop at “just one” takes on a different flavor when Christ is present to help us overcome.
Showing posts with label overcoming sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label overcoming sin. Show all posts
Friday, June 2, 2017
Monday, May 9, 2016
Fears and the power of God .................. Parables 429
July 12, 1994
My husband’s Uncle Bud led a colorful life. For instance, he once had a water spaniel that was afraid of water. Embarrassed with this inappropriate characteristic, Uncle Bud did what most people would do; he tossed it in the river. The fearful dog not only nearly drowned; Bud had to jump in and rescue it!
Like that dog, each of us have fears of one kind or another. For instance, my sister-in-law shrieks when she sees a spider and I once chased my brother around the yard with a garter snake. My own pulse races just watching on television the view from atop a tall building. People have fears in the spiritual realm too. Some are afraid of evil spirits. Others are afraid of God and think He plans harm for them. On the other hand, some Christians fear making gross mistakes and sinning against Him. Those who feel that way often pray: “lead us not into temptation.”
In relation to fearing sin, there is a comforting promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “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.”
Anyone serious about not sinning hopes this verse means God will never give them anything they can’t handle. That is almost what it says, but not exactly. Read it again. God promises to not allow temptation beyond what we can bear — in that He provides a way to stand up under the temptation. He does not say overwhelming temptation will never come nor does He say we can handle it by ourselves.
Realistically, this world without temptation would be heaven! Since that is not the case, temptation to sin is everywhere, not only inside our own hearts but all around us. By allowing us to experience temptation, God helps us discover one of two things. Either by failure we learn where our faith needs to be stronger, or by success we learn that God is faithful. His way out actually works.
Regarding fear, it is generally opposite to faith. It is impossible to trust God and be anxious at the same time. When Jesus walked on water, Peter thought that would be exciting and asked if he could try. Jesus invited him to step out of the boat. Peter was fine as long as he kept his eyes on the Lord. As soon as he looked at the storm, fear confronted him and the apostle followed anxiety instead of Jesus.
Peter had a way out. He could keep on trusting Christ, but he failed. Instead of standing up under the temptation, he actually began sinking under the water. Jesus had to come to his rescue.
Job, an Old Testament character, had problems with fear also. He hoped calamity would never happen, but after losing his livestock and his family, Job said, “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.”
However, Job also “feared God and shunned evil.” When his negative fears came true, his faith in God wavered but held. He was finally able to say: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Later, God restored his losses and commended him for his declaration of faith.
Like Bud’s little dog, without intervention, we would not survive many situations that confront us. Trust in God does not eliminate temptation, danger or trials, but He does guarantee to provide a way through them so we can resist yielding to fear or sin.
My husband’s Uncle Bud led a colorful life. For instance, he once had a water spaniel that was afraid of water. Embarrassed with this inappropriate characteristic, Uncle Bud did what most people would do; he tossed it in the river. The fearful dog not only nearly drowned; Bud had to jump in and rescue it!
Like that dog, each of us have fears of one kind or another. For instance, my sister-in-law shrieks when she sees a spider and I once chased my brother around the yard with a garter snake. My own pulse races just watching on television the view from atop a tall building. People have fears in the spiritual realm too. Some are afraid of evil spirits. Others are afraid of God and think He plans harm for them. On the other hand, some Christians fear making gross mistakes and sinning against Him. Those who feel that way often pray: “lead us not into temptation.”
In relation to fearing sin, there is a comforting promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “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.”
Anyone serious about not sinning hopes this verse means God will never give them anything they can’t handle. That is almost what it says, but not exactly. Read it again. God promises to not allow temptation beyond what we can bear — in that He provides a way to stand up under the temptation. He does not say overwhelming temptation will never come nor does He say we can handle it by ourselves.
Realistically, this world without temptation would be heaven! Since that is not the case, temptation to sin is everywhere, not only inside our own hearts but all around us. By allowing us to experience temptation, God helps us discover one of two things. Either by failure we learn where our faith needs to be stronger, or by success we learn that God is faithful. His way out actually works.
Regarding fear, it is generally opposite to faith. It is impossible to trust God and be anxious at the same time. When Jesus walked on water, Peter thought that would be exciting and asked if he could try. Jesus invited him to step out of the boat. Peter was fine as long as he kept his eyes on the Lord. As soon as he looked at the storm, fear confronted him and the apostle followed anxiety instead of Jesus.
Peter had a way out. He could keep on trusting Christ, but he failed. Instead of standing up under the temptation, he actually began sinking under the water. Jesus had to come to his rescue.
Job, an Old Testament character, had problems with fear also. He hoped calamity would never happen, but after losing his livestock and his family, Job said, “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.”
However, Job also “feared God and shunned evil.” When his negative fears came true, his faith in God wavered but held. He was finally able to say: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Later, God restored his losses and commended him for his declaration of faith.
Like Bud’s little dog, without intervention, we would not survive many situations that confront us. Trust in God does not eliminate temptation, danger or trials, but He does guarantee to provide a way through them so we can resist yielding to fear or sin.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Darkness and Fear ............. Parables 384
August 29, 1993
“I was too scared to go down the dark one...” said 12-year old Angie, after a visit to West Edmonton Mall’s Water park. She loved the water slides and wasn’t intimidated by their height nor steepness, but the darkest tunnel slide was too dark. No matter how much her brothers coaxed her, she refused to try it.
James and Joey couldn’t understand her fears. “There is nothing to be afraid of,” they insisted. Many parents say the same thing when their children want lights on and doors left open. They know childish monsters exist only in a child’s imagination. But children are not much different than adults. We tend to fear whatever darkness might conceal, not darkness itself. If there are enemies or dangers, we prefer both to be visible, out in the light.
Several hundred years before Christ, Plato remarked, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Whatever Plato meant, I can think of several possible applications. One of them is the not-so-funny fear of looking at one’s self in the mirror in full sunlight, a phobia that materializes some time after a person’s thirtieth birthday.
Perhaps a more crucial fear is that of examining our prejudices. Sometimes we prefer hiding them because we may discover we were wrong. It is difficult to either live with error or change our minds, so we would rather not bring those biases to light.
Light and dark are symbolized somewhat differently in the Old Testament. Darkness is associated with a life of sin and ignorance; light with righteousness and goodness. Jesus added even more dimension to these symbols when He declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
Jesus Himself is Goodness and Righteousness, true Light that came into the world to expose and set us free from all the hidden elements of sin’s darkness. He shed light on the human idea that sin is something we do by saying it goes much deeper; it is an attitude of the heart. Such hidden sin must be exposed, never covered by a show of “good” deeds.
Jesus’ explanation of sin was not popular then or now. The religious leaders of His day made a show of piety and were what we might call “good, God-fearing people.” Jesus said they were hypocrites because their deeds were motivated by hearts that were not right.
In this context, Jesus uncovered a third fear related to light and darkness. He said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19).
Notice, He was not talking about those who are afraid of what darkness hides, but people who love the dark itself, a far more serious problem. He gave this reason: “Men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (vs.20)
He is referring to people whose attitude toward sin is contrary to Scripture’s teaching. The Bible says those who cover their sin will not prosper. Sin is our worst enemy, the very cause of eternal death. Besides, since light represents for more than goodness or spiritual enlightenment but Jesus Himself, then everyone who does evil hates Jesus, and will not come to Him fearing He will expose their evil deeds.
That means sliding further into darkness regarding the nature of sin and darkness and disregarding the only One who can overcome it.
“I was too scared to go down the dark one...” said 12-year old Angie, after a visit to West Edmonton Mall’s Water park. She loved the water slides and wasn’t intimidated by their height nor steepness, but the darkest tunnel slide was too dark. No matter how much her brothers coaxed her, she refused to try it.
James and Joey couldn’t understand her fears. “There is nothing to be afraid of,” they insisted. Many parents say the same thing when their children want lights on and doors left open. They know childish monsters exist only in a child’s imagination. But children are not much different than adults. We tend to fear whatever darkness might conceal, not darkness itself. If there are enemies or dangers, we prefer both to be visible, out in the light.
Several hundred years before Christ, Plato remarked, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Whatever Plato meant, I can think of several possible applications. One of them is the not-so-funny fear of looking at one’s self in the mirror in full sunlight, a phobia that materializes some time after a person’s thirtieth birthday.
Perhaps a more crucial fear is that of examining our prejudices. Sometimes we prefer hiding them because we may discover we were wrong. It is difficult to either live with error or change our minds, so we would rather not bring those biases to light.
Light and dark are symbolized somewhat differently in the Old Testament. Darkness is associated with a life of sin and ignorance; light with righteousness and goodness. Jesus added even more dimension to these symbols when He declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
Jesus Himself is Goodness and Righteousness, true Light that came into the world to expose and set us free from all the hidden elements of sin’s darkness. He shed light on the human idea that sin is something we do by saying it goes much deeper; it is an attitude of the heart. Such hidden sin must be exposed, never covered by a show of “good” deeds.
Jesus’ explanation of sin was not popular then or now. The religious leaders of His day made a show of piety and were what we might call “good, God-fearing people.” Jesus said they were hypocrites because their deeds were motivated by hearts that were not right.
In this context, Jesus uncovered a third fear related to light and darkness. He said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19).
Notice, He was not talking about those who are afraid of what darkness hides, but people who love the dark itself, a far more serious problem. He gave this reason: “Men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (vs.20)
He is referring to people whose attitude toward sin is contrary to Scripture’s teaching. The Bible says those who cover their sin will not prosper. Sin is our worst enemy, the very cause of eternal death. Besides, since light represents for more than goodness or spiritual enlightenment but Jesus Himself, then everyone who does evil hates Jesus, and will not come to Him fearing He will expose their evil deeds.
That means sliding further into darkness regarding the nature of sin and darkness and disregarding the only One who can overcome it.
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