I Like Ice Cream, But I Have To Stay Away From It

Just because we like something doesn't mean it's right for us. Just because something is comfortable doesn't mean it's what we are supposed to be doing. If that were the case, I'd be able to wear jeans and tennis shoes to the hospital every day and I could eat as many cookies as I felt like. If that were true, I'd be able to curse people out over the most minuscule incidents and not even think twice about it.

The easy road should be the one least traveled, and too often that's not the case. It's not easy to admit you don't have the answers. It's not easy to realize you're not in control. It's not easy to lay down your cross to carry His. But all of these have to be done. It's not really optional. He commands it.

So why is it that we are drawn to what's comfortable? I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I think a good part of it is that when we're surrounded by the comfortable, we don't get pushed. Our limits aren't stretched. Our horizons aren't broadened. Nobody likes to be tested, and staying on the easy road is the simplest way to avoid potholes.

James 4:17 "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Unfortunately, we know that we shouldn't be on the easy road and, according to God's Word, we are sinning by staying on it. So how do we get off? How do we change our course? Where's the nearest exit ramp?

Growing up, my parents always told me to be a defensive driver. Always be looking at the road around you. Always keep an eye on the other drivers. Just like on the highway, we need to keep our eyes searching for signs around us. Signs that we're going the wrong way. Signs that an exit is approaching. Signs that we've almost reached our destination.

Galatians 5:16-18 "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law."

There is no clearer directional sign than the Holy Spirit living inside of us. You can't deny the times that you hear Him telling you to yield, to turn around, to go another way, to stop and start over. Too often we ignore that voice. We think that there's no way He can see what's up ahead better than we can. There's no way He can see what's behind us because, after all, we're the ones with the rearview mirror. Newsflash: the Holy Spirit doesn't need headlights and mirrors. He is one with God the Father - all knowing and all powerful. Not only does He know what's up ahead, but He can see beyond the headlights - even the brights. There's no way we can beat Him.

I hate when I have to be honest in these blogs, but I am. One of the biggest obstacles in my road is attention. I love to get attention. Whether it's praise from a superior or flirting from a girl, I relish those moments. God has been working with me lately on getting away from that. Who needs earthly attention when you have Heavenly attention? Who needs the admiration of man when you have the grace of God shining on you? Who needs a wink from a girl when you have the smile of the Lord pointed at you?

God is shining a light on the exit ramp. Much like Jenny (yes, I named my GPS), His voice is telling me where to go. He's telling me to get off the highway and turn onto His way. But, as your driver's ed teacher would tell you, you have to be careful when you merge. How do we merge from our highway to His way?

James 4:7-10 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

First, we must turn on our blinker and tell God that we are getting off. That we have decided we cannot do it and we need His will to carry us on. Then, as we start to get on the exit ramp, He will immediately be there with us. There's no delay. As soon as we turn our hearts to Him He will lift us in His arms and smile. Picture that. Picture God cradling you in His arms and beaming at You - just like a mom who holds her baby for the first time.

They say that the way to choose a dog is to see which one will let you hold him upside down in your arms. It's crazy, but it's true. That's what happened when we got Jack and Maggie, and there's no doubt that they're the dogs for us. Why is that? Submission. If a dog will let you hold it upside down, then it trusts you enough to submit to your authority. Likewise, we need to be bold enough to lay ourselves in God's arms and submit to His will. When we do that, it makes all attention from down here seem meaningless because there's no one else we care about pleasing. When you make God smile, how important does it make a pat on the back from your boss seem? When you make God smile, how important does it make a compliment from a girl seem? Pretty insignificant.

Final Thoughts

Those of you who know me well know that I used to be a pretty big guy. On January 1, 2005, I began two journeys in my life - one journey back to health and one journey back to God. Fortunately, the journey back to God made the journey back to health a whole lot easier. When you've got Jesus to chase after, you find yourself turning to your unhealthy habits a lot less. I like ice cream, but I have to stay away from it. The good news, though, is that no ice cream will ever compare to the sweet gift of eternal life.