“He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 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.” Hebrews 11:25
So much of life is faced with two paths to choose that bring about very different results. The two I want to highlight is the path of immediate pleasure and future reward.
How do we make the choice that is best for us and for others, and who decides what makes it the best?
I will narrow down the topic to the choices of food we make every day. One choice of sugar, for example, gives an immediate gratification, but another choice of vegetables results in immediate support for your body’s health as well as raising the potential for a longer, more fulfilling life. Think of something you care for and are passionate about. Have you invested time, money, and energy into it? Probably. Now think about your body. You were only given one “earthly suit” that is similarly dependent like a flower. When you nurture it and give it what it needs, you will enjoy the beauty that it shares, but if you leave it to fend for itself as the victim of your selfishness, it will surely wilt and die. This is not rocket science. What then is the road block getting in the way of our freedom around food? May I suggest our perspective is a huge piece to the puzzle?
When I begin to believe the kind of price Jesus paid on the cross for my spirit, soul, and body because He says I’m worth it to Him, I begin to live in a way that values myself because of how He values me. In the same way, when I begin to value my life, then I want to live long, strong, healthy and whole. One way to shift our perspective is a choice to take our eyes off the present gratification and fix our eyes on the future reward that is so much better and worth waiting for. This reward is part of the abundant life. Don’t think that you are missing out on truly living when you choose to walk in the ways of the Lord. You are signing up for many more joys, as Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”
A shift in this mindset begins with a spiritual heart transplant where your identity is rooted in the One who loves you and paid the highest price to set you free. It is because of freedom that I can say “No!” to a second helping when I am satisfied. This is not legalism meant to keep you bound. Until we are truly free, it’s easy to miss how bound we were by our emotions, taste-buds, stressors and more. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day didn’t think they were slaves to anyone either, but Jesus told them differently.
Can we simply be honest with our Father about the things we feel we don’t have a handle on but should? He wants to help us and see us into victory, but we have to be willing to follow His method to living in freedom. I’ll remind you that it’s not about saying, “I can’t have that cake or pastry.” Adjust your perspective to: “Today, I get to walk in self-control because Jesus has set me free from every stronghold. I get to say “No!” to a pattern of death and “Yes!” to a pattern of life.
I see my reward in saying yes to Jesus and His wisdom and it far exceeds the passing pleasure of sin. I also see my reward in saying yes to natural/ whole foods which, in my opinion, far exceeds the passing pleasure of tasty yet destructive foods. Please don’t think that I’m saying eating sugar is equivalent to sinning. I’m simply showing the similarity of the instant and harmful affects they each have.
I pray that you take these words into consideration and ask Father God what He thinks about your current relationship with food. I believe His Word points us into all truth and powerfully takes our weaknesses and replaces it with His strength.
You ARE an empowered eater not because of your knowledge or will-power but because of your faith and trust in the One who made you powerful and loves you perfectly.
