50 Shades of Hades

Do not be deceived . . . Galatians 6:8

I remember a story – fictitious I’m sure – of a grandmother who baked brownies for her 8-year-old grandson. The mouth-watering aroma of chocolate filled the entire house.

“Those smell delicious,” her grandson said, eyes wide and sparkling. “What’s in them?”

Grandma smiled, “Chocolate, some sugar, flour, a little salt, eggs, and just a speck of dog poop. Not more than a half a teaspoon.”

“Ewwwwww!” Her grandson backed away from the pan. “UUghhh!”

“Do you not want any?”

“No way!” he said, vigorously shaking his head.

“But you’ll never taste the dog poop. It’s just a little bit mixed in with all this good tasting chocolate and sugar and flour.”

I have been reading lately on the social networks and some of the online news outlets about a movie based on a book by the same name. I suspect you’ve heard of it too, “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

I understand why some who do not know the beauty of Christ would pay to see what I hear is pornography on steroids, but what absolutely confuses me is why those who call themselves Christians would even toy with the idea of seeing the movie or reading the book.

Package filth in the sweetest of chocolates, and it remains filth.

“Do not be deceived,” the Holy Spirit solemnly warns, “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8)

We will always reap what we sow: corruption or beauty, heartache or hope, emptiness or joy, death or life. This law of the spirit is as absolute as the law of gravity. Mock either one, and we lose.

Every time.