I WANT IT ALL AND I WANT IT NOW!

     I WANT IT ALL AND I WANT IT NOW! Persuasion isn't just the name of my favorite Jane Austin book, it is also  a powerful task master. After Tim and I had dropped  off Donnie's girlfriend at the  Nashville airport  this morning, we decided to grab something to eat. We had dragged ourselves out of bed way before God had intended for human beings to rise, and  now that our mission was complete, we were awake enough to actually be hungry. My first choice was a real sit-down breakfast joint,  until Tim pointed out, " Dad, I didn't wear any shoes." 

    While holding off our discussion about the importance of footwear on long road trips, we were left with plan B.   We simultaneously scanned the horizon, and there, high above all other signs were the gleaming Golden Arches. We not only saw the  sign, we felt the sign... we were one with the sign.  It called to us. " YOU WANT IT ALL AND YOU WANT IT NOW!   We excitedly discussed all the options available on the breakfast menu, and unable to choose before the appointed time, we ordered one of each. I blocked out visions of the movie "Supersize Me" and ordered  fifteen dollars worth of breakfast pleasure. We left no survivors. When I got home my daily Bible reading led me to Proverbs 20:17 which states,
" Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man but he ends up with a mouthful of gravel."  I'm not sure about the fraud, but I clearly understand the gravel part. I still feel like I have a rock in my stomach.

    Persuasion often tosses us around like a rag doll,  ordering us to buy things we can't afford, and do things we can't abide. While flipping from the news channel to sports,  I pass by the infomercial channel. Often I am persuaded. I want Sham Wow, and Slap Chop, because that crazy guy makes them sound so appealing. I want my tomatoes to grow upside down in the pot, and I'm sure I could quit work and make a million dollars if I just bought this guy's book on "How To Quit Work and Make a Million Dollars".

    Persuasion has a darker side. The Apostle Paul was initially persuaded to kill Christians in the name of God, and the crowd was persuaded to kill Stephen, a truly godly man, because he told the truth. Judas was persuaded with 30 pieces of silver,  to betray the one who gave His life  for us. We are often persuaded by Satan's  sweet tasting morcels, only to suffer immeasurably when the results of our actions settle in our souls. Only you and God know what you are doing. No one else. If you are being persuaded to do evil, repent. God expects no less from His children.

    Persuasion has a lighter side. The closer we are to our Heavenly Father, the more we are persuaded to express His love to others. I am persuaded to follow Him no matter the cost. I am persuaded that God will make everything right in the end.

 Romans  8:38-39     "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."