TASTE AND SEE

"O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." - Psalm 34:8

I love to eat. Good food is a vital part of my life. I enjoy sitting down with my family and digging into home-cooked food! To me, there's nothing like good old-fashioned homemade fried chicken. What a delight to dig into a juicy steak! Certainly burgers on the grill are special. Then there's homemade biscuits and gravy ... well, you get the picture.

In sharp contrast, TV dinners rarely look (or taste) as good as the image on the cover. Have you noticed that about the advertisement of food? It always looks better on the commercial than it does when you order it.

Spiritually, man-made religion is like a TV dinner. It looks good to the eye, but it is sadly lacking in substance.

Let me be very candid. There is no substitute for a genuine soul-saving, life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Church membership, denominational allegiance and social action may keep a man busy, but will leave him still hollow within. Each person must be born again.

It isn't enough to look at good food or smell good food. Your hunger can only be satisfied when you taste the good food and eat it. The Bread of Life is available for hungry souls. Soul salvation comes without a price tag because Jesus has already paid the bill. Because of this, souls can come freely to the table of grace and feast on the good things of God.

The invitation is given to you today: "O taste and see that the LORD is good." While church is important, don't substitute church for Christ. Only Jesus can save you. Singing Gospel songs, hearing stirring sermons and giving charitably certainly have their place, but hearing about the Gospel is different than embracing the Gospel personally.

The real need of humanity is met in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to give us life. Abundant life. Eternal life. When a man meets Christ, he begins to really live.

Taste and see yourself. Come to the banquet table and meet Jesus yourself. Let your starving soul enjoy the good things of the Lord. You'll find out personally that God is truly good.

The Bible goes on to say, "blessed is the man that trusteth in him." The person who trusts in the Lord is blessed in a special way. No, the problems of life don't vanish upon conversion. Instead, the peace of God brings special consolation to the believer as he faces the challenges of daily life.

Some confuse salvation with joining a church. For some people both may occur at the same time. However, salvation is a definite, personal encounter with Jesus Christ. When a sinner comes to Jesus in repentance and faith, the Lord does a mighty work of grace in the heart of the sinner. The sinner tastes and finds out that salvation is truly of the Lord. The sinner becomes a saint --- and he is never the same again.

Let me challenge you today to taste and see that the Lord is good. Don't fall for substitutes. Turn from your sins and trust Jesus alone for your salvation. Drink deeply at the well of salvation today.

Every one who comes to Him is never the same.