GIFT-WRAPPED GARBAGE

Hebrews 11:23-26
23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

When the garbage collectors of New York go on strike, it's bad news for the locals. In fact, it doesn't take long till it becomes a crisis. That's why, so the story goes, one ingenious citizen found a different way to dispose of his trash.

Each day, before he left for work, he wrapped his refuse in shiny wrapping paper or placed it in a pretty gift bag. Then he parked his vehicle on a city street, leaving the beautiful package on the front seat of his car--with the window open.

His plan never failed. Whenever he returned to the car, he found that someone had kindly collected his garbage.

Clever, huh? The people who took those packages were enticed by glossy wrapping and glitzy ribbon and what they believed was inside. But when they tore off the paper, they were greeted by a stinkin' mess.

Doesn't that remind you of the way sin is disguised? Sometimes it's prettied up or called by another name--but we know what it really is. Temptation slyly winks at us and urges us to grab all the pleasure we can. "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:14).

As a young man, Moses enjoyed a wonderful life in the house of Pharaoh. Yet, "he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time" (Hebrews 11:25). Moses had an eternal perspective for his life.

People say that if you live with an odor long enough, you don't even notice it anymore. For God, though, the stench is intolerable. That's why He gives us a way out of the garbage can of temptation that leads to sin. "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).

Got some trash you need to toss? --Cindy Kasper

DESTINATION POINTS

* Have I become accustomed to the smell of sin in my life? Am I ready to get rid of it and confess my sin to God? (1 John 1:9).
* How can I protect myself from giving in to sin?

LINKS
Resisting The Lure: Recognizing The Dangers Of Sexual Temptation

The Forgiveness Of God

bottom line: Temptation makes sin look mighty fine.

soul journey