Toxicity

I just couldn't help myself with these two great pics of coffee. But the toxic one is really the heart of the matter here.

Why is it, the things that are most toxic to us are the things that we desire the most? I feel this way with many things, coffee being one of them.

It gives me heartburn/acid reflux but I just can't help myself sometimes... strike that most of the time. It just tastes so good. I used to keep the coffee industry in business by myself. Not any longer.

I think of the fruit on the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The very thing that we couldn't have, was the only thing (seems like) that Adam and Eve wanted. It was toxic. God even warned them: ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’

It doesn't get any more toxic than that... this even came with a warning label of its toxicity.

Look any other list of sins in the Scriptures and they are all toxic to not only ourselves as individuals, but to the community with which we associate (whether that's a faith community or not). Think about. Doesn't it seem at times though, that we are drawn to the behaviors which destroy our community and ourselves? Why is that? What is it about something that is toxic to us that we can't ever seem to get enough of it?

Is it some sort of design within that compels us to constantly move that way? I suspect we live in a fallen world in which what we value most has been distorted and maybe even destroyed to the level where we don't even or can't even recognize on a subconscious level we are drawn to that which destroys. Does that make any sense? What I'm trying to say is, as a being in a fallen world where sin is now the predisposition we are more likely to move towards sin. If this is the case then it makes sense that we would be drawn to what destroys us... we almost can't help it. We are stuck in a cycle of destruction with no way out...

Or are we? Yes & no. We are stuck and there is no way out... except through the blood of Christ. He is the only one to save us from ourselves. Christ came to seek and save the lost. That would be us.

How can we overcome that which is Toxic to us? Only by asking Christ to assist us in that struggle.

Daily rely on him in prayer.

Daily trust in him for strength.

Daily seek him to guide us.

Daily let his experience (as one who struggle through this life too) get us through to the end.