Do Not Feed The Animals

Have you ever been to a place where there was sign that said “Do Not Feed The Animals”? You look around and you see these cute, little, harmless creatures and you say to yourself “Seriously, they are so cute, what can it hurt?”

And as soon as one of these animals get a taste of what you have to offer, they quickly turn into scary huge very harmful animals. They give off this noise and more come out of the woods. You quickly jump back into your car. The next thing you know is that you are surrounded by a pack of hungry and angry animals looking at you like you are a pork chop. You have opened their appetites and they want more.

Looking around to see how to get out this situation, again you notice the sign. You read it under your breath, “Do Not Feed The Animals”. It makes sense now and you wish you would have listened.

You, just like these animals, have an appetite. And if you have not noticed, you tend to crave what you put into your mind and body. For instance, if you drink a lot of soda, you will crave more soda. If you watch a lot of violent TV shows, you will crave more violent TV shows. It is the way your body works.

Knowing this you need to be careful what you put into your mind and body. You need to place signs in your life that say “Do Not Feed The Animals” because once you get a taste of something, your body may want more and more of it. How many times have you seen a news story about someone who ruined his life because he tried illegal drugs one time and became addicted?

The book of 1 John in chapter 2 verses 15-17 speak about the power of your appetite, Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Those are very powerful words that John wrote many years ago and they are still applicable today. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is referring to once you get a taste of how the world operates, your appetite will crave more and more of it. You will give up things you never thought you would, just to satisfy that craving if only for a moment.

Here’s the beautiful thing! If you are addicted to something and you find yourself craving more and more of it, there is hope. God’s Word says He will provide you a way out! Look at what 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

God will provide a way out for you! That’s great news!! He will be there to help you get out of your difficult time. Now, He is not a genie that will magically make everything better. But, if you truly want to get out of and our willing to work at it, He will strengthen you to help you and help you with your task. That is so incredible! And over time, the cravings will subside.

But the true moral to this story is, pay attention to the signs that say “Do Not Feed The Animals”. When you know you are not supposed to being doing whatever it is you are about to do, do not do it. Put the food back in your pocket, get back in your car, and drive away. You will save yourself a lot of heartache and pain, trust me.