Eating Rotten Noodles

I talked with my mother one day this week and she shared the following story with me. It seems that our youngest son Seth was visiting his cousin's family. As they talked he shared how he had been eating a lot of "Ramen noodles.." (For those who may not know, they are a low cost prepackaged seasoned noodle. You just put them in hot water and they are ready to eat in a few minutes.) The next day our great niece (almost 4 year old Megan) was visiting my mother. My mother said that Megan was crying and acting very sad. When she asked what was wrong she said, "I don't like it that Uncle Seth has to eat "Rotten Noodles".

Obviously what her four year old mind heard was not quite what was said.

It made me think though, don't we often think we are taking something that is good into our lives and it turns out to be rotten (spoiled, bad, Corrupted). What effect do you think it would have on your life physically if you ate rotten food? What effect do you think it has on your life spiritually when you take in to it things that are rotten or corrupted?

It's almost impossible to list all of the things that can and do affect us in a negative way if we let them. Probably number one is the type of entertainment we choose to allow into our lives. There is so much rottenness slipping into the television programs and movies in the theaters it is almost impossible to view those things and not be affected.

Our world seems fascinated to see, (what is termed as entertainment) that focuses upon Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, Evil Witches & Wizards and generally all sorts of ungodly people. Many love to view programs about people who live lives in direct opposition to God's instructions. This is not entertainment; this is rottenness invading our lives and spirits. There is an old saying we have in the business world that goes like this: "Garbage in, garbage out". I think the same thing is true of our spiritual world; you become what you feed upon, spiritually and physically.

King David struggled with this problem which is why he wrote Psalm 101:2-4. Notice his words: "I will be careful to live a blameless life, when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil." (NLT) One translation uses the phrase, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes." (KJV) What about you, what do you choose to set before your eyes?

The apostle Paul knew this was a problem, long before the advent of television or movies. That's why he wrote what he did in Philippians 4:8. Notice his words: "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise". (NLT)

You see, we do have a choice regarding what we watch, where we go and with whom we associate. The choice we need to make may not be what is popular with our peers or with society in general, but the Judge of the Universe is watching. Our choices will decide where we spend eternity, so choose wisely.

Russ Lawson