Ah, the life of a housecat…

 Many people have met my housecat, Corey. She generally lives by following seven different appetites…

1.  The appetite for sleep is one. She sleeps 12 to 15 hours every day.

2. Her appetite for food is obvious as well. She has a pretty plump shape. And she gets vocal when it’s time for her daily feedings.

3. She also has a selective appetite for attention, seen in her rolls and purrs.

4. But she has a dangerous temper, which could be considered an appetite as well. Beware if you see her; she gets mad pretty easily.

5. And she has some curiosity. Her exploration has put her in danger before. There’s a reason for the famous expression: “Curiosity killed the cat.”

6. Sometimes this is connected to her territoriality. She thinks that everything she sees automatically belongs to her. She grumbles whenever feral cats walk through the backyard.

7. And her predatory instincts are strong as well. I’ve seen her catch mice, baby rabbits, birds, insects, and even a snake.
    

The sad thing is that many people in this world are like Corey. They never rise beyond the point of living for their appetites. Appetites for food, sex, alcohol, fun, revenge, jealousy, work, personal happiness, fame, money, possessions, power, and other things guide their lives.

 There are, of course, natural and healthy ways of using most appetites. But it’s very easy to go outside the bounds the Lord has set. And when this becomes sin it has a way of captivating our hearts, minds, and spirits. The Bible compares it to a kind of slavery in Romans 6:16-17. It’s like getting into a car with a stranger, having no idea where you are being taken.

 Christians are called to live by our principles, not our appetites. There is nothing very appetizing about a cross. But sometimes it is easy to go on living like the rest of the world, just counting on later forgiveness. And this is called grace abuse. It comes out in different ways…Some Catholics will say that they can take just go to confession later, so why not sin? Some evangelicals will misuse the “altar call” in the same way,… and other Christians will say they can just repent for it later and be forgiven.

 Philip Yancey, in his best-seller What’s So Amazing About Grace?, tells the story of a friend who asked him a heated question: “Do you think God can forgive something as awful as I’m about to do?” This man was making plans to leave his wife of 15 years for a younger woman, and the question sat before them like a live snake on the table. Yancey said he went through four cups of coffee, listening to his friend, before he dared to give an answer.

 And then he told his friend that while forgiveness is possible, it’s not like it’s a good idea to plan ahead for it. God has certainly forgiven plenty of adulterers and murderers before. But the problem of sin is that “we change in the very act of rebellion – and there is no guarantee we will ever come back. You ask me about forgiveness now, but will you even want it later, especially if it involves repentance?”

 But while the power of sin is soul-capturing, the power of the gospel is a freeing thing – liberating us from this kind of trap and empowering us to make a difference in the world for the Kingdom of God. The Bible speaks of Christian freedom with these words: “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

 God bless you,
Andrew McHenry, Pastor
Maple Hill Community Congregational Church