This morning as I was listening to the news, a report has just been published about the dangers posed to youth and children who drink energy drinks. Though this study is not comprehensive, there has been very little information about the impact of energy drinks on people. The ingredients listed for "Monster Energy Drink" are: carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, taurine, sodium citrate, color added, panax ginseng root extract, L-carnitine, caffeine, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, niacinamide, sodium chloride, glucuronolactone, inositol, guarana seed, pyridoxine hydrochloride, sucralose, riboflavin, maltodextrin, cyanocobalamin. There is also a warning label which tell the user to not drink more than three per day. Now, I am not the sharpest tack in the box, but I can look at the ingredient list and know this probably isn't something I should be ingesting. If it comes with a warning, I definitely need to stay away from it. So why are these drinks so popular? They are a short cut to having energy. Rather than doing what is necessary for the body to have energy (Get a good nights' rest, eat healthy/balanced meals and exercise), we take a short cut. Eventually the body, spirit and emotions pay a price for taking this short cut. The report this morning warns that teenagers drinking energy drinks can have serious physical and emotional problems as a result of consumption. This is just a reminder that short cuts really don't work.
Jesus was tempted to take short cuts in becoming the Messiah. In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan tempts Jesus in three different ways. But all three ways boil down to one temptation: Take a short cut since you have the power to do so. Take a short cut to satisfying your hunger by turning stones to bread. Take a short cut to having people worship you by throwing yourself off the Temple and the people will be in awe as the angels keep you from death. Take a short cut to being Lord, rather than dying on the cross, worship Satan and have all the Kingdoms. Do you remember how Jesus fought the temptations? Yep, He utilized Scripture - The Scripture that He had spent the first thirty years of His life learning, studying , memorizing and living. Thirty years of preparation for this time of temptation. He didn't take the short cut. Even at the end of His life, as He prayed in the garden, He was wanting a different solution to our problem of sin. When God revealed that Jesus must drink the cup of suffering, He went out to face persecution, abuse and His death. He became sin for us. There was no short cut He could or would take.
How often do we want to take short cuts to maturity? Rather than spending time alone with God studying His Word and praying, we want to "mulit-task" by listening to Scripture while we drive or cramming our prayer time into our commute. God rarely gets uninterrupted time with us, yet we expect our shortcuts to bring about spiritual maturity. Sorry, it just don't happen that way. Jesus knew Scripture because He had actively memorized Scripture. There is no short cut to having God's Word hidden in our hearts, but to study it, memorize it and put it into practice.
How often do we try to take a short cut to building a relationship. Rather than turning off the TV and computer and video console to spend time talking/listening with our spouse and/or children, we try to make quick moments happen on Valentine's Day. Instead of going out on dates and having honest communication, we stay busy doing our "important" things, like church work. A meaningful relationship takes time, sacrifice and investment in each other. There is no such thing as quality time without quantity OF time. We give our spouse and children our leftover energy or try to make up for it with a family vacation. The time passes much to quickly to do this. We must be actively involved in their lives on a daily basis. There just isn't a short cut for this.
When a difficulty comes our way, we gripe and complain to God and ask Him to take away the pain. We want a shortcut out of this struggle. Yet God has incredible lessons for us if we will simply persevere and be faithful to Him. He has brought this struggle at a specific time for a specific purpose. Taking a shortcut will keep us from growing the way God planned for us to grow. I have a book which puts it this way: "There Are No Instant Grapes In God's Vineyard".
The list of shortcuts we try to take goes on and on. If we are honest, we can truly admit the shortcuts we are trying to take. We know that eventually they harm more than help. It is in the moment of decision when we are tempted to cheat and go in the wrong direction. Would you ask God for the strength and wisdom to take the long way and learn in the process. He's a loving God and will answer that prayer. Take a Sip from the Well of His leadership and be refreshed on your journey.
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