When you become a Christian, you give up all the things of this earth to focus only on spiritual things, right?
WRONG!!!
Sure, you give up worldly pleasures. 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
But this does NOT teach that you can’t enjoy the things that God has physically created in the world around us. We can and should enjoy God’s creation by stimulating our senses.
Personally, I love the smell of flowers, tomato plants, dirt, fresh-cut grass, and food, especially bacon cooking on a Blackstone griddle. I assume I’m not the only one, right? I love the taste of warm apple pie with Yarnell’s Ice Cream melting on the side. I love the taste of fresh tomato on a BTL sandwich in the summer with a cold glass of ice tea to wash it all down. I love the feel of fresh, clean sheets, a cool house, and a gentle breeze on my back porch. I love to listen to music from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Dave Matthews and Tom Petty. I love the physical intimacy enjoyed in my marriage and the warm embrace from my children in my arms.
All these things make me feel good physically and encourage gratification of my senses, the senses that God created. God made me this way. There is not one reason to feel guilty about feeling pleasure in our bodies. God has created us with five wonderful senses for us to enjoy and take pleasure in. The key is to instill moderation and praise Him for all that we enjoy.
Colossians 1:16-17 says, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
God created all things, and He holds all these things together in the world around us today.
Read Psalm 104 and tell me if you think David looked around Him and enjoyed creation while praising God for every aspect of it.
Take time to stop and enjoy God’s creation. There is nothing wrong with taking enjoyment and pleasure in it!
I love you!
Alex