ZA MAGAZINE // seek truth.

It’s 4:37, and I’m checking out Starbucks’ website…on Caribou Coffee’s free Wi-Fi. But hey, it’s just to compare nutrition facts. As I expected, the conspiracy doesn’t stay behind these wood paneled walls…no, Starbucks is in on it too. I guess at least Caribou gives you free internet while it fattens you up. Then again, if you get the healthy choice of hot tea, make sure to get a medium; otherwise, the amount of money you have contributed to the cause will only get you one hour of free internet. Anyways, my jaw dropped and my stomach churned as I realized that splurging with my gift card on a fancy drink and a snack to go along was way more of a splurge than I’d ever expected. I walked in with two heavy bags (my typical load on a paper writing day) and I’ll leave with heavy bags and a heavier me (me + 164 carbs + 1000 calories + 40 grams of fat!). I almost feel like running…almost.

As I sit here though, I realize I was not the only one duped. There are muffin eaters all around me. Most seem to be enjoying the carbacious delights, but I don’t think they really know. The woman behind me says to her someone on the phone (for real), “Why don’t you just finish the rest of that muffin…” And as I look around, I feel a sense of urgency to stand on my trendy checkerboard-top table and scream “STOOOOOOOOOOP!” and then say with intensity, “Before you eat another bite, hear me out! Do you realize what you are ingesting? I didn’t know before, but now I do. Even though it tastes good and that sugary sweet dessert just seems like a treat, it is really filling your body with GARBAGE! Between a dessert and a drink that’s 40 grams of fat, of unnecessary, unhealthy fat! After awhile this is the stuff that kills you!” Dramatic? Yes. True? I think so.

My heart races as I actually consider this scene for a moment (now that would make it a unique day). And my heart crashes (and no, the sugar “drop you off the edge of the Grand Canyon” has not yet occurred) as I realize that I am in this situation everyday. Everywhere I go, there are maple-glazed muffins and campfire mocha drinks being drunk by the people I pass. And those “treats” are addictive. The desire for more is in their eyes. Just another one, just another drug, just one more night with the married man, just one more rumor that is too juicy not to tell, just one more good work for her salvation fund…I could go on. If you have this kind of coffee and muffins everyday, it’s starts to become noticeable. At first, it’s maybe a few extra pounds…just a bit more weight to carry. Enough weight that if you never get rid of it, it would start to wear on you. And the more you drink and eat this, the more weight you carry. I pass by these people who are never satisfied, never fulfilled by their deadly ritual and I float, because my weight has been removed.

My weight has been removed because I have a father in heaven who sent his beautiful perfect son to have his flawless arteries clogged with the crap that I put in mine. He sent His son, His perfect son Jesus to take my place. And He did! HE DID…do you hear me, HE DID! Drop your coffee, throw the rest of your food as far away from you as you can. Don’t worry about what you’ve already eaten. Don’t worry about the sin you have already committed. Because Jesus was hung on a cross, died, was buried, rose again, and ascended to heaven for YOU AND ME, so that He could take away our sin. You won’t need that unfulfilling garbage anymore, because His love and His salvation will make you whole.

I anticipate the response that just one muffin and one coffee drink won’t hurt, so who cares? Maybe one won’t hurt all that bad for a while, but without Jesus you will surely die and surely suffer eternity in hell. Only Jesus can save you from that. When you look around and see a world offering tempting things, turn to Him and accept His salvation. No matter how much weight you are carrying, he can remove it all. His salvation makes you a new person…a person headed for eternity with God.

To those of you who are Christians, we have had our weight removed. Are you testing out the muffins and the coffee again?

What about all the people we pass who have been lied to, who don’t know the truth? Maybe they feel like crap, but don’t know another way. We have the truth. We have the ability to stand up on our tables and warn them. Maybe they don’t heed our warning, but have we even tried? This isn’t just a silly rant about fattening food. This is about people, real people who are headed for hell while Christians shamefacedly sip on skinny lattes or are out drinking the 500-cal campfire mocha with the people who could be saved.

Luke 9:26
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

If we are ashamed of Jesus, in the end He will be ashamed of us. I am convicted. But, that doesn’t matter too much if I don’t change. What are you going to do?