Taste


Pro 8:7  My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth-- I can't stand the taste 

	of evil! 


	This has happened before. Asked to tell exactly what took place, it felt 

so good to just describe it just the way it was and not have to feel like it was 

hidden anymore. But then the reaction that was the response to this truth was 

just not an enjoyable experience at all. Not only was there a long time-out in 

the corner, there was also an infliction of pain applied to the backside right 

before this time-out that made it even more difficult to sit through. 


	Sooo, maybe there might be a way to slightly alter the description of what 

happened this time and make it appear not so bad. After all, those little animal 

characters on TV do it all the time and it always seems to help them out. Maybe 

if enough creativity can be applied, the punishment might be averted altogether. 

Even though it doesn't seem right to do this for the first time, there is this 

little falsehood conceived and performed that yields just the desired results, 

no punishment. How sweet can that be? The battle of the taste buds has been won 

for the first time by evil, and the incentives will always be there throughout 

the remainder of life to exercise and further develop this taste for the telling 

of falsehoods. It may possibly become a very natural and enjoyable deed as many 

undesirable things are avoided and the desirable things attained. 


	The problem with this change of appetites is that compromise of the heart 

is always required for the telling of a lie. There is damage done to the 

righteous integrity of that part from which the true virtues of life would flow. 

The character that would have been able to discern and follow the ways of truth, 

through any consequences, to sure success, has been traded for a few moments of 

reprieve. 


	While there is great confidence, boldness and total success to be known by 

everyone at the sit-down restaurant of "truth", a tendency has been engrained 

into us by the society around us to just stop in and get some fast food of 

falsehood. As this taste for the grease and meat is allowed to dominate the 

diet, though, the arteries begin to clog and the waistband begins to expand. 

There is just no way that this developed taste for evil can produce anything but 

a sickly and unproductive life. 


	Knowing that there is a need for a change of diet, it is not all that easy 

of a thing to just change what is craved. There must be a constant monitoring of 

choices, especially during mealtime, and it is best if there is someone to help 

do this. If there is not accountability to someone, it will be so easy to just 

zip through the drive through and get a quick fix for that old craving. With 

someone there, though, reminding of the consequences of evil and the rewards of 

righteousness, it becomes very difficult to enjoy the taste of evil like before. 


	I'm so thankful that there is, for us, a constant Companion who 

understands our frame and is ever available to provide not only the reminder of 

consequences, but also the rewards of righteousness and truth. As He is allowed 

to always remain at our side, it will become less and less desirable to partake 

of the destructive portions of falsehood. As truth and righteousness become the 

entrees of choice, they will be savored and relished to the exclusion of any lie 

or deception. In His presence there is a whole change of appetite that takes 

place, and even the smell of an evil morsel becomes repulsive. Any damage done 

to the integrity of the heart is repaired and restored by the touch of His 

purity, and strength is renewed that will stand strong against any enticement of 

evil.  


	To try and make this change without His presence, however, is sure to 

prove futile, as the old cravings will win every time. But, as there is a 

development of a life of worship in a constant awareness of His holy presence, 

even the thought of tasting evil will no longer have a place of acceptance. So 

occupied with savoring the consumption of truth, there will be no desire or time 

to even take the smallest bite of evil. Righteousness will have fertile soil in 

which to grow and bear its fruit and there will be complete satisfaction and 

fulfillment in the healthy life of abundance that the savoring of truth will 

form. 


Pro 8:8  You'll only hear true and right words from my mouth; not one syllable 

	will be twisted or skewed. 

Pro 8:9  You'll recognize this as true--you with open minds; truth-ready minds 

	will see it at once. 




5/15/04