Sin is pleasurable. Think about it. Don't you get a little delight out of giving (not receiving- that's different) that sarcastic, hurtful response when you are angry? Or doesn't it feel just a little satisfying when you hold back on forgiving someone who has hurt you? Maybe I'm just a little worse than all of you but sometimes it feels good to complain and be negative. I've been thinking about the word "pleasure" this morning and what God's word has to say about it. Here's what I've found:
1. Although I, as a sinful human being, may take pleasure in wrongdoing- God doesn't!
"You are not a God who takes PLEASURE in evil (anything causing an undesirable condition as ruin,injury, pain; harmful;injurious); with you the wicked cannot dwell." Psalm 5:4
He is soooo good. He cannot delight in anything that harms his children and is not love. He cannot take pleasure in anything that is not right or beautiful.
2. Sin is pleasurable.
"He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the PLEASURES OF SIN for a short time. 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......he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:25-27
It becomes pleasure of sin for a short while VS. reward in heaven FOREVER.
Which one do you want? Temporary or eternal? Like Moses- we have to make a choice.
3. It is a terrible thing to love pleasure more than God.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD- having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:1-5
4. God loves pleasure and loves to give us pleasure. His idea of pleasure is different, better, more holy, more loving, and more pure.
"They will be paid back wih harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of PLEASURE is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their PLEASURES while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed." 2 Peter 2:13-14
"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with ETERNAL PLEASURES at your right hand." Psalm 16:11
I am so thankful to God that he has rescued me from my sinful self, that part of me that takes pleasure in sin, and has given me His spirit which is increasingly desiring more and more to say "No" to ungodliness and "yes" to the things that please Him. I am so thankful that He is increasing my desire to be a "Lover of God rather than a lover of pleasure."
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purfiy for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14
May I encourage you, my friends, to surrender yourself to Jesus and ask him to increase your love for God more than your love for pleasure. May we see the bigger picture, may we trade the "short time/temporary" for the eternal. May we have the eyes that see sin for what it is and the harm it brings to God's precious children and creation. As we allow Him to transform us, may it be said of us,
"You Watergirls are not women who take pleasure in evil." (from Psalm 5:4)
May we become just like our Father. Like Father, like daughter. Blessings from Bombadil. May your soul be watered and may you water another's soul. Happy weekend!
Kristy Joy Link
