Coke Dreams

Yesterday as E and I made the trek back from some sweaty running around the playground, what should cross our path but the Coca-Cola truck making a delivery. As it pulled up and stopped in front of the store, I could just taste a cold swig of Coke running down my parched throat. There was water in the stroller, but oh for a refreshing Coke! So quickly I scrounged through the stroller looking for spare change, only managing to come up with a mere 11 cents. Sadly I turned the opposite direction and headed for home, the whole time thinking how nice just one drop of Coke would be…

I had to laugh at myself later, knowing the advertising people had done a good job and would have counted me a success had I possessed 89 more cents to put in the machine. But I also realized how similar my attitude toward the Coke had been to the form temptation leading to sin takes in our hearts.

James 1:14 "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust."

Before the truck crossed our path, I had nary a thought of buying a Coke. But seeing that bottle on the side of the truck gave me an idea that I could taste in my mouth. The only thing that kept me from fulfilling my desire was a lack of money. (note – I’m not saying drinking coke is wrong – read on…). Then I began to wonder, is that my reasoning for choosing not to sin at times, a lack of "money" or whatever I would need to accomplish what I am tempted to do? The next time I’m thirsty and have $1 on me, I’ll probably get a Coke. If the only thing that holds me back from some kind of sin is a lack of ability at the moment to do that sin, that’s not really victory over temptation. That’s temporary delay of sin.

James 1:15 "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."

Is my reasoning behind not giving into temptation fear of God and a desire not to sin? Or is it just a lack of means? My pastor has been going through James, and it’s been very good to think on these things. For it’s not just the action, whatever that may be, that is sin. It’s the dwelling on the desire. For in the end, once the lust has conceived, it "gives birth to sin."
All the way home, though I didn’t have a coke in my hand, I imagined the cool sugary goodness running down my throat. Do I deal with temptation that way? Imagining something but not taking action? It’s still sin. That’s what Jesus always dealt with – the condition of the heart, not just the outward actions. May we always remember that God is looking at our hearts and may my inmost desire be to please Him and give Him all the glory!

And with all this hot, stick weather, go have a cool refreshing Coke, it’s on the house!