But I Don't Like Coffee

I've never been a coffee drinker but I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I have friends that can't hardly get out of bed unless they have a pot of coffee ready and waiting and before they do anything else in the morning, they have to have that first cup (or pot) of java to get things kick-started for the day.

Now I'm a coke man, and I mean Coca Cola, not these offshoot hippie brands like Pepsi, Volt or Dr Thunder. Anyway, back to my point - I have tried many other breakfast drinks, but the only one that really ever satisfies my morning craving is a good ole "Coca Cola"!

The old adage is that opposites attract and I guess to a certain extent that is so, but my wife and son are right there with me - give us a coke in the morning and you'll get no complaints from us, other than having to get up so early in the morning. That reminds me of another adage - the family that drinks together, or is that prays together - well, you know what I mean.

Back to my point again, if there truly is a point to this rambling. Anyways, I have tried many other types of drinks in the past including coffee. The thing that I can't take with coffee though is the bitterness. I can add enough cream and sugar that it is OK and I can drink it, but in reality it no longer even resembles coffee. Others have asked as they have looked at my coffee, "what is that?" The aroma of the coffee is so great and tempting, but when I partake I find a bitterness that I can't handle.

Many times that is the way of sin in our lives also. We know what works for us and we love it. God has always been faithful and steady, just like the coke, but we smell the coffee and we like to fool ourselves into thinking, maybe it's not that bad, maybe I'll be okay. But thank God for the Holy Spirit that brings conviction into our lives as we partake of the things that we know are not for us.

How many times in your life have you attempted to justify the things in your life by adding "cream or sugar" to things that you wanted to do but you knew that you shouldn't be doing. We make excuses and come up with reasons why we believe it will be alright this time. James tells us that "to him that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

Many times we deceive ourselves and will even say, well it doesn't say in the Bible that I can't smoke or drink or do drugs etc... We justify within ourselves that it is okay - again I thank God for the leading of the Holy Spirit that lets me know that this is not something for me; that I need to stay with the things that are pleasing to God and stay close to the good things in life.

No - I don't really even like coffee and I think I will stay with coke.

Disclaimer
(I am not saying that coke is good and coffee is bad. But I am saying that God is always that good thing in your life, He is the one that is always faithful and true, whether he is compared to coffee, coke or some other type for you.)

Pastor Russell