by: Brandon Fowler
I LOVE SWEET TEA! I don’t mean like, I mean LOVE. I wouldn’t call it an addiction, but let’s just say I’d prefer drinking it over most anything else. I know what you’re thinking, “You’re from the north, what could you possibly know about sweet tea?” Yes, most of my life I have resided in the north; however, I do know what I like and dislike.
To this day, my mother is an avid tea drinker. Growing up, there was always a pitcher in the refrigerator, and I’m sure there is right now as well. Don’t be tricked though, she doesn’t make sweet tea. She brews it, then once it’s in her cup she adds artificial sweetener. YUCK!
Unsweetened tea is no good if you ask me, and the only thing that’s worse is artificially sweetened tea. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way many times, in both my parent’s kitchen, and in my walk with God.
You see, growing up in a Christian home, I was very familiar with the things of God. I attended church regularly, graduated from a Christian school, and even went off to a good Bible college. There came a day around my eighteenth birthday, when I decided I’d had enough. I was tired of the life I had, and although it directly contradicted everything I knew in God’s Word, it was a choice I still wanted to make.
Six years later, my life had spiraled out of control, leaving me feeling further from God than I ever knew was possible. I claimed to be an atheist and Satanist, and my lifestyle reflected the rock and roll icons that I had made my new gods. It was in that place where God allowed my eyes to be opened to the truth. I was living life on my terms, doing everything I wanted, and completely empty on the inside.
My search for contentment and joy, led me from one dead end to another, over and over again. All of that changed the day that I met Christ.I saw the peace my family and friends had, that I knew I didn’t. I realized that maybe what I was missing, was what I’d been raised on all along!
I told God I was giving Him a chance, and my life has never been the same. I started reading and praying, as I sincerely tried the best I could to walk with God and apply my heart to His Word. I thought of all of the times I cursed God, ignored Him, and blatantly disobeyed Him; yet, through it all, He loved me, He blessed me, and continued to wait.
Now that I am serving the Lord with my life, it’s easy for me to see where I, and so many others go wrong. We all have the same rebellious sin nature inside of us, and we all want to have fun. Satan is an expert at showing us the things of this world in a pretty nice looking package. What we don’t realize until it is too late, is that NOTHING Satan has to offer is real! It’s always flavored with some cheap imitation, that will leave you feeling empty, broken, and with a terrible taste in your mouth!
Jesus is the answer! The longing in your soul, the thing you just can’t put your finger on that’s missing from your life is Christ! He is the real thing, and everything worth while He gives. Psalm 34:8 tells us to “taste and see that The Lord is good!” Who knew this better than David? He too, tasted the things of God, then like so many of us do, thought he’d give Satan’s tea a try. When it was all said and done, he realized how foolish he’d been and ran back to God.
Whether you’re a young person or adult, walking with God or in the hog pen; please remember this, GOD LOVES YOU. He forgave David for his mistakes, He forgave me, and He’ll forgive you. You may very well have a mouthful of disgusting, artificially sweetened tea brewed by none other than Satan himself right now, but GOD STILL LOVES YOU! Run back to Him. Give Him another shot, and give Him your all…you’ll not regret it!
Brandon Fowler
No More Prodigals Ministry
Canal Winchester, OH
https://www.facebook.com/NoMoreProdigals