Don't Eat The Junk Food!

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Let me tell you a story. A story about a little girl; a little girl with dirty blonde pigtails, hazel-colored eyes, a handful of freckles over the bridge of her nose, and one front tooth missing from her sweet , little smile. This little girl’s mama was making her favorite supper. Everything was gonna be made from scratch, all hot and ready, steaming on the table with delicious aroma when her daddy got home from work. The only problem was that daddy didn’t get home for 45 more minutes, and the little girl was hungry; really hungry. Disobeying her mom, she grabbed a chair, pushed it up to the pantry shelf, pulled down an armful of her favorite snacks and commenced to eat them. She took a couple nibbles of the cookie, a few handfuls of crackers, unwrapped some candies, and then went back and finished them all off. By the time her daddy walked in the door, the little girl had chocolate smears on her face, crumbs on her jumper, and a bellyache to rival all bellyaches! After indulging in every piece of junk she could finger, there was no room left to enjoy the prize that was now within reach.

What would you have done if you were that little girl? Would you have waited patiently? Or would the junk food be your choice as well? The culture of the world screams the priority of making yourself happy and taking advantage of everything life offers. The little girl listened to that message.

I read a quote the other day that I strongly disagreed with. It stated:

“A girl can wait for the right man to come along but in the meantime that still doesn’t mean that she can’t have a wonderful time with all the wrong ones.”                                                             -Cher

You know, that little girl did exactly what this quote inspires. Even though she was waiting for a wonderful goal, she ruined the beauty of the whole thing by being greedy and impatient. What would you think if I told you that you are that little girl? You, as an unmarried young person, are a representation of that young child waiting for your ‘special supper’; and you have a choice. Will you actively wait, patiently wait, purely wait for your future husband or wife; OR will you indulge in every available Jack or Jill who offers momentary pleasure; and I’m not just talking about the big stuff guys. Every part of your body, every new triumph, is a gift; all wrapped up. Every gift that is unwrapped before you say “I do” is one that you can never re-wrap for your spouse. Your parents get to unwrap your first smile, first words, first steps, first tears, and first laugh. I’m sure they can say more than I how special those firsts were. Likewise, there is no greater gift to give your future spouse than your first kiss, first-time holding hands, first front-to-front hug, first slow dance, and, of course, your unblemished physical purity.

Let me tell you another story; this time, about an old man. This man (Abraham) was married, well, to an old woman. God had promised a lineage more numerous than the stars in the sky [Genesis 15:5]; quite a big family! The only issue was: they had no children. Not even one! How were they supposed to receive the blessing of such a huge family without one child to even carry on their name?! They asked. God told them to wait. They waited a while, and then asked again. God renewed His promise and told them to wait. The older and older they got, the more impatient they became. Then Abraham took matters into his own hands. He started eating the junk food, so to speak, and created a child with his servant. God rejected this child as the promised blessing. Abraham spoiled his ‘special supper’, his blessed family line, with an impatient substitute. The Lord did eventually fulfill His promise to Abraham through his wife (Sarah); but even to this day we suffer the effects of Abraham’s rash decision. Abraham couldn’t, and didn’t, escape the consequences of chowing on the junk food; and neither will you and I if we try!

It’s hard! I know. It’s not easy to be a patient waiter. It’s challenging to always be focusing your mind and heart on God until He points out “the one”. You can look around to your peers and see the obvious results of their not quite making it. Now in no sense am I saying that because of any slip, big or small, that they are bad people or that they have ruined their life or spoiled their chance. Maybe even you have missed the highest mark a little. No one is perfect. DON’T DESPAIR! I think Abraham is a great example, and a source of hope, to those of us who may have been impatient. Even after many others may have thought he blew it, God turned his man-made mess into a wonderful, fully forgiven, life. Yours can be too. I want to encourage you friend. I want you to know that even though the entire world pressures you into compromising, YOU CAN STAND FIRM. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

The Bible talks of another man (Timothy), very close to our age, who was being looked down on, maybe even pressured, because of his standards for God. God, through Paul, encourages him to stand firm. Encourages him to:

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NLT)

The little girl messed up. Abraham was forgiven (and still called righteous, mind you! [Hebrews 11:8-12]) Timothy overcame. I’m sure, somehow, you, too, have messed up. We all have. You can stay there OR you can seek forgiveness from God and overcome in the future. It’s up to you.