Forbidden Fruit

I spent most of last night curled up in a ball, asking myself, “Why?”  More specifically, “Why do I do the things I know I shouldn’t?”

So…I’m sure you’re wondering what I did.  Like Eve, I gave in to temptation and ate the forbidden fruit!  During the past week I have eaten strawberries, raisins, and peanuts.  Oh, and I also drank a few Sprites.  Sounds pretty innocent doesn’t it?  For most it would not be a problem, but I have a condition called interstitial cystitis which is aggravated by eating foods which contain citric acid.  I know I shouldn’t eat those foods, but I love them and sometimes I just can’t help myself.  The temptation becomes too much to resist.  Then I suffer the consequences for a few weeks because of my weakness.

As I lay awake, I wondered why I choose to subject myself to pain that I know will intrude on my sleep so severely if I eat those foods.  Then I realized the choices we make in life are similar to me eating foods I should avoid.  Romans 7:19 says, “I want to do what is good, but I don’t.  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”  Let’s look at that carefully.  I want to do what is good but I don’t……..I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.  I think most of us truly want to do the right thing.  Yet we find ourselves doing things we know we shouldn’t do just as I find myself eating foods that I know will have consequences.

So why?  Why do we do the things we know we shouldn’t?  Temptation…It began with Adam and Eve in the garden, and Satan continues to tempt us so that he may lead us astray.  2 Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Maybe like the tempting, juicy fruits I should avoid, the things we shouldn’t do just look so tempting that sometimes, we just can’t help ourselves and we do those things knowing we will suffer consequences later.  No matter how hard we try not to do what is wrong, Satan is dangling it in front of us, pouring chocolate on top, and insisting that just once won’t hurt anything.   We know sin may lead to consequences such as guilt, emotional or physical pain, financial difficulties, isolation from those we love, and ultimately alienation from God, but we find ourselves giving in to the temptation.  Let’s face it, none of us are perfect.  Eventually we will succumb to those temptations….for most of us a lot more often than we are willing to admit.  Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  There will surely be many sleepless nights as we suffer the consequences of our choices.  But the good news is God’s grace is like a soothing medicine which covers it all!

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