I haven't had goat meat in a long time. Having goat meat used to be a privilege for me, something we only had on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter so on. My appetite for goat vanished one day maybe seven or eight years while I was eating a chewy piece at home. Goat meat has a distinct smell if you haven't had it before. It smells like... goat. While I chewing, I was imagining a male goat staring and yelling at me in his language. I was eating some rice and stew with the meat in it. Suddenly, I began to feel sad for this imaginary goat that was yelling at me. But ... I kept eating. I was hungry. I was eating for a few more minutes and began to hear again this goat yelling at me. I couldn't eat anymore and decided that day I couldn't eat goat anymore. I broke my promise a couple of times after that because I was craving it, but I don't think I can eat goat regularly now.
Now, forget about me eating goat for a moment.
An African proverb says: "The very thing a goat likes to eat most will give it an upset stomach."
Paul writes in Romans 8:12-14, "Therefore brothers and sisters, we have an obligation but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Paul also writes in Galatians 6:7-9, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The lesson behind the proverb is there are things that seem pleasing to the eye and satisfying, but it only ends in destroying our lives. No one denies the temporary satisfaction of sin, but it never fully and permanently satisfies. Yelling at the person who cut in front of you on the highway as my doing yesterday, only causes more problems in anger in my life. The very thing we like to enjoy in sexual sins, worshiping material things, jealousy, anger, selfishness, envy, and arguments only makes us upset in the long run. It never truly satisfies. Paul says if we walk by the sinful nature then we will end up dead, reaping destruction. But since we have been renewed by the blood of Christ because of grace, we have a different orientation and obligation. We should walk with the Spirit and put to death sexual sins, worshiping material things, jealousy, and so on. God has given us a new appetite for the blissful things of heaven. We will reap life when we live to please the Holy Spirit. We can eat of the fruit of the Spirit; peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those things will never upset our stomach. We will only grow healthier.
Kingsley
