"We Have Cookies”

“Come to the dark side,” read the bumper sticker.  “We have cookies.”  Naturally, I chuckled to myself as I read that while driving down the road.  But then, I began to think about what that driver was saying to the world.  (This is the peril of studying theology – one can never just let a bumper sticker be a bumper sticker.  One must ponder its meaning!)  This driver was telling the world that he was willing to sell his soul for some cookies.  Whether those were real or metaphorical cookies is immaterial – this person was willing to go over to the dark side for a reward.  Like Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29ff), this driver thought the instant gratification of “cookies” was more important than his immortal soul .  How sad!

As believers, we every day face the temptation of those “cookies”.  Evil dangles them in front of us, tempting us to abandon what is right and good, luring us over to the dark side.  And it can be hard to resist those temptations.  Those cookies can look mighty good sometimes.  A little voice whispers to us “Go ahead, do it – it’ll make you happy.  It’ll make you feel good.”  And we’re tempted to grab on to the instant gratification.  We’re tempted to forsake what we know to be right and good, simply to gain the reward.

Perhaps you’re wrestling with just such a situation.  Perhaps there is a great sin you’re struggling against right now.  Perhaps you know just how tempting those cookies can be.  And if that’s the case, I’m sure you know how bad they actually taste.  You know the bitter defeat of giving in to temptation.  Sure, it feels good at the time.  Sure, those cookies are delicious at first.  But later, the stomach ache comes, doesn’t it?  The instant gratification turns in to emptiness, remorse, guilt and shame.  The good news is that God’s forgiveness is always there.  In Jesus Christ, we are lifted out of that pit of guilt and shame and set firmly upon His Rock of loving compassion and mercy.  And friends, no matter how many times we hear that, it’s still amazing, isn’t it?

But at the same time, we must learn to fight temptation.  We must persevere, looking at life through the eyes of faith.  Those eyes show us just how wrong those cookies are.  They show us that there is a better a way, a way which involves resisting temptation and holding on for God’s better reward.  That way involves a great deal of prayer for strength and wisdom.  But it also involves a life of reading God’s Word.  In Matthew 4, we read of Jesus going out to the desert for forty days.  There, He was tempted by Satan.  The Evil One dangled all sorts of cookies in front of our Savior, hoping that Jesus would forsake His role as our Messiah.  And how did Jesus meet the devil’s temptations?  By using the Word as His weapon against evil.  Jesus knew and relied upon the Word to help Him in His times of trouble.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have the same tools as Jesus, that we are just as equipped as He to resist temptation?

              So, my friends, equip yourselves with the Word and with prayer.  We’ve got great opportunities here at Westwood to help you.  Consider coming to Sunday School each week.  Consider joining the men of the Barnabas Boys on Thursday mornings as they begin their Bible Studies again, or come join us at the Wednesday Evening Bible Study.  Our prayer groups meet in the morning and evening on Wednesdays and would love new people to join them.  Try out our One Year Through the Bible Plan in the Newsletter or our devotional materials on the hall tables.  Or check out our church library, which has books for you to borrow and read.  All of these things are available to help us grow in our faith, our knowledge and our wisdom, so that we’ll be strong when we see those cookies.  Won’t you give them a try?  You won’t regret it.

May God give us strength and courage as we live for Him!

To Him be the glory!,

Joshua

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