Everything that Glitters Isn't Gold

A few summers ago, my husband, daughter and I went to California to visit my eldest son and his precious family. My son and his wife truly believes in showing us a good time and to show us all the sights. 

He and his wife took us to a really fine restaurant on the coast and afterwards, we went to the beach.  We spotted couples and families on the multi-people bikes riding along the beach.  It looked like so much fun and a great family event for us to do.  So my son rented two bikes for us and we took off in the sand to ride next to the beautiful Pacific ocean with the warm wind blowing in our faces and the beautiful blue skies above us; it felt like being in a movie.

It looked like so much fun when we watched other families ride their bikes, but we were soon to find out that it was no fun paddling these heavy bikes in the sand.  It was hard work, in fact, it was awful...it was terrible.  The muscles in our thighs, butt and calves were totally killing us as we tried to paddle these wretched bikes back to the owner.  We couldn't get back fast enough and I promise you, I will never do that again.

We thought it was fun and it looked like everyone else was really having a good time until we actually experienced doing it ourselves.  Kinda like excessive partying, drinking, drugging and illicit sex.  It all look like fun to the one standing on the outside and looking at those who are participating in the deeds of the flesh.  I don't know if any of us ever really looked at the other people's faces real close to see if they were enjoying those horrible paddle bikes. 

People act like getting high or drunk is fun, but I will never forget the horrible feeling I experienced getting drunk at 19 years old and the hellish hangover that pursued me afterwards.   I remember wishing I were dead.  Having multiple sex partners might seem fun, at least it looks fun in the movies, but Satan seeks to cheapen and marred the act that God made beautiful between a wife and husband and He called it good.  Multiple partners and perverted sex leaves the participants feeling empty.  Say what you want, but truth is truth.  It looks like fun...but after the act is over there is emptiness.

We were created to love and be loved, but there is no communion of the heart or love in casual sex.  It looks like fun, but it's a trap.  There are all kinds of traps to fall into if we don't think of the consequences of our actions that can last for a lifetime. 

If I had really,thought about that paddle bike in the sand I wouldn't have ever consented to it.  It's hard to walk in the sand, so I should have known,that it was going to be difficult to paddle in the sand.

The one thing that doesn't look fun or inviting to those running from God is submission to Him   It looks difficult living a holy life, but I promise you, there's nothing on earth that compares to having the Sovereign God draw near to you.  Yes, it takes effort, but the payoff is out of this world.  You will  receive far nor than you give out.  God says, seek Me and I will be found by you.  He calls us to come after Him and He will make sure that you run smack dab into Him.  It won't cost you anything but time and amazingly, He created time just for you to spend with Him  

Everything that glitters isn't gold. There's real gold and then there's fools gold.  It has been said that fools gold glitters more than real gold. Seeking the pleasures of this world is like fools gold or that cruddy paddle bike; deceptive.  You cant go by appearances; something may look like fun, but can lead to destruction.  God looks good and He is good.   You will never be disappointed with God.