There is a fire in my belly

I sat down to eat two lonely, leftover pork chops, but my wife tried to stop me.

I was convinced they were only a few days old – okay, maybe a week.

They were still tender, flavorful, and oh so delicious. I was only trying to help the common good by cleaning out the fridge of all the leftovers. That's a noble task, right? Let nothing go to waste.

Later that night my wife did the math and determined she made the pork chops when her parents were in town… three weeks ago.

Another surprising revelation is that three week old pork chops are tender and juicy only because the bacteria has had ample time to break down the tough enzymes. Who knew? The consequences of my actions – my foolish actions – are better left unsaid. But it's safe to say that I now have strong convictions when it comes to eating "age-unknown" leftovers.

My wife was trying to teach me a valuable lesson. It's a lesson that many of us have failed to learn: just because it looks good, and tastes good, does not mean it is good.

The world wraps itself up with pretty bows and ribbon. Like a beautiful gift, it offers itself to us with the promise of satisfaction. It looks good, and it tastes good, but it is far from being good. We may very well know we're choosing death itself, but we partake anyway.

Worldliness is so subtle at times. Tullian Tchividjian calls it a "sleepiness of the soul in which the status, pleasures, comforts, and cares of the world appear solid, stunning, and affecting while the truths of Scripture become abstract - unable to grip the heart or guide our everyday activities."

Choosing death makes sense to our flesh, which specializes in counseling with lies. But the Spirit counsels us in the conviction of the truth. A good definition of "conviction" is: understanding when and being convinced that you're dying.

Eating those pork chops was like standing in the middle of a house that was burning to the ground. A fireman was sent in to save me and carry me out. When he reached me I did the most absurd thing imaginable. Instead of choosing life and letting him guide me to safety, I invited him to stay with me in the fire. I chose death because the truth was "unable to grip my heart."

The power of the gospel through the counseling of the Spirit is the only effective weapon against the seductive schemes of worldliness. When we encounter worldliness we must be convinced that choosing to partake in it is like choosing death. Do not let your soul become sleepy and easily counseled with lies. And equally imperative, listen to your wife when she tells you to stop eating three week old pork chops.

Have you ever had food poisoning? How many leftovers are in your fridge right now?


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