Pleasure island

I just came back from Pleasure Island where I now live close to. Every time I hear the word, see the word "pleasure" I feel almost all that's described in Dictionary.com: the state of feeling or being pleased; enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one's liking; gratification; delight; worldly or frivolous enjoyment; recreation or amusement; diversion; sensual gratification. But I mostly think "guilty", especially when combined with the word "island."

Pleasure can go both ways. But only what we get from God is worth enjoying.
 

There are people who did not want to enjoy pleasure coming from the wrong source.

"Choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God

than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin."

~Hebrews 11:25

And on the other hand, Solomon, who did not spare any pleasure.

 

"And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.

I kept my heart from no pleasure,

for my heart found pleasure in all my toil,

and this was my reward for all my toil."

~Ecclesiastes 2:10

 

But what Solomon realized is something I read long ago and looked up recently:

 

No one can hide from God. He is there in all of life. He knows everything that goes on, He knows the thought of the heart, every word of the mouth. He knows the motives that we seek to hide from others. He sees the duplicity, the deception, the lovelessness. He has made a record of it all; nothing can be hid. Everything will come out in the open at last. The illusions by which we seek to convince ourselves that things are not the way the Bible says they are will be stripped away and we will see ourselves as He sees us. And there will not be a voice lifted to challenge the righteousness of His judgement.

 

Because of that, Solomon exhorts us to fear God, to have faith in His existence, to experience His grace, to stand in awe of His Person, and to resolve to obey Him. That is the secret to life. That is the secret of wholeness in man.

 

And with that King Solomon's record of lifelong research is finished. He writes at the end of a life that has known both leaping, flashing moments of pleasure, and long, lonely hours of shame and misery.

 

The record is plain for all to see. Life without God is dull, empty, vain. Life with Him is full and satisfying. Even the tears and pain have meaning and value when we see they are chosen by Him. The purpose behind it all is the increase of joy. (Is This All There Is to Life? Answers from Ecclesiastes by Ray C. Stedman)

 

"The end of the matter; all has been heard.

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the whole duty of man."

~Ecclesiastes 12:13

 

Jesus, may You be our source of pleasure. May we keep our hearts pure.

 

Lord, only You...

"You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

~Psalm 16:11

Keep CZECHING IN!