Sin as Dark as Chocolate

You know when you know you're not supposed to do something, but you do it anyway? The kind of thing you do it because it feels good at the time, even though you know a consequence will ensue.

I've been like that with chocolate lately. Now, there's nothing morally corrupt about chocolate, but it is death to me. It is a main contributor to my migraine headaches. I know this, and yet I still choose to eat it!

Yesterday I had two chocolate muffins. I justified it by asking how much chocolate was really in the recipe. I cut one in half. Eventually I went back for the second half. After school I went for an entire second one without hesitation.

Today I bought chocolate milk at school. It wasn't even sitting on the table in front of me. It was inside a fridge, and I actively got up out of my seat, walked to the fridge, looked at the price tag, pulled one out of the fridge, walked over to the register, and paid good money for it. It was out of my way, and still I pursued it.

Later today I was craving something yummy. My eyes went to the dark chocolate Japanese snack in the cupboard. I've resisted it for months, but today I slipped. After all, I'd already goofed.

Lest you think this is turning into a diet confessional blog, let me say how this got me thinking along deeper lines than chocolate and migraine headaches.
Isn't this just like sin? We start out by thinking about it, take a baby step toward it, and gradually slide down the slippery slope until we've fallen headfirst into a bog!
And isn't it true how easy it becomes to continue on once that first step is taken? This afternoon when I went for the dark chocolate snack I told myself I was probably going to have a headache anyway from my previous slip-ups, so to enjoy the chocolate while I remained headache-free.

Or, if you're like me, you cut in half, edge toward it, justify it - surely now it's not nearly as bad! - so you feel better about yourself. What's worse is the hypocrisy that follows! When offered chocolate, I modestly decline saying, "Oh, I can't eat chocolate." I take the sympathy and still sneak it when I feel like it.

Surely I'm not the only one who understands this struggle? (And I'm not just talking about chocolate! Hopefully you followed that.)
Why do we choose to go after evil when we know truth?


"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." - Romans 7:21-25

I'm so thankful that Paul understood this struggle - one of being positionally sanctified but not yet glorified. We have been given new records and new hearts, but not yet a new world where sin will be no more. Thanks be to God that we are no longer enslaved to sin! (Go read Ephesians 2. It's pretty much the best thing ever!) Paul also says in the book of Romans that we have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I'd say that's a pretty sweet exchange.

I also love how James covers this struggle with temptation!



"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

So it is the lingering flesh that entices us to do ill. But I love how James doesn't leave us there. (That would certainly be depressing!) He warns us not to be deceived and immediately goes on to remind us that every good gift comes from God! I love that! He totally changes the focus! Still, he doesn't end there. He also reminds us of our position through Christ. We are God's own. He brought us forth by His own will! We are worthy - because of Christ - despite our wrongdoings, not only in the past, but also in real, present struggles! And by His strength, we can resist temptation.

I'm probably going to have a headache tomorrow. Yes, there are still consequences. But I hope that I may choose not to wallow in it, but move forward by grace. I'm thankful that grace is vast enough to cover my wrongdoings and my headaches. :)