Two battles.

In case I haven't gone to mentioning this in this space, I am type 2 diabetic.  I struggle with it.  The dietary restrictions imposed by having to watch my carb intake, some times, makes me want to pull out my hhair. It was this very thought that brought me to an interesting epiphany.

 

 

The struggle to eat right...and do consistently, is not unlike the struggles a Christian faces when dealing with sin and temptation.

 

For the diabetic, it is knowing that some calories are empty, worthless carbs.  That huge sundae or other decadent dessert looks great in the menu, but in the end, you come away feeling empty and doing damage to your body...and for what?

 

For the Christian, it is whatever we lust after, hunger for too much in our flesh.  Let me, since I am a male, use the male propensity for lusting after women as an example.

 

The man sees (or in my case hears) the woman and she sounds beautiful...and the usual male desires arise, but the man, in his brain, knows that it would be empty, unfulfilling, and he'd walk away ashamed, unsatisfied deep down, but yet he still desires her.  The craving doesn't go away no matter how much he wills it to.

 

In my struggle with diabetes I am much the same.  I'm a meat & potatoes guy.  So, I love my starchy foods.  Not so big on veggies.  Given the choice, I'd rather heap on the mashed potatoes, but I *KNOW* it is wrong...bad for my body...and not helping my blood sugars...and yet I still want it. 

 

In both cases, you have the two sides warring...the devil on your right sholder, in the form of the cheesecake saying "You can eat me...I won't harm you..." and the angel on the other shoulder saying "That's too sweet...too many sugars..."

 

In the same way, spiritually, the devil tries to decieve us into believing that a given sin isn't that bad; "Go ahead!  Do it!  It isn't that bad...there are worse sins!" he cunningly whispers, meanwhile the Holy Spirit is practically screaming "Flee! Run the other way!  Don't give in!"

 

In closing, let me throw in one of my favorite verses from the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans.  May it encourage the diabetic, and the sinner alike:

 

For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice.
Romans 7:19