We have five main human senses: taste, touch, smell, hear, and sight. Pleasure is more of secular term because it has everything to do with how the human body works. These senses communicate information to the brain through the body’s nervous system. The brain will tell us what smells bad, sounds loud, or tastes good. For example, when you take a bite of your favorite desert, your taste buds sends signals to your brain, which in returns say’s “this is delicious!” We have neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in the brain that communicate these messages throughout the brain and body. One of the neurotransmitters that is mostly associated with pleasure is dopamine. Dopamine is part of the brain’s pleasure system, and it is released when partaking in certain experiences such as sex, eating food, and taking drugs. Most illegal drugs are substances that play to theses natural brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) and give us that temporary feeling of excitement, relaxation, or extreme high. What’s interesting is that this neurotransmitter is also highly associated with addiction. When partaking in sugary foods or some kind of drug, the chemicals being release send a temporary high that can only last for short while. Once the experience is over, the body wants more (this is why sugar can easily be seen as a drug because of its impact and addictive nature on the brain). The world tells us to chase or do what makes us happy, what makes us feel good; this can be such a dangerous suggestion when considering the way our brain works. When you live by the flesh (by our senses, feelings, and chemicals) we are likely to destroy ourselves.
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6
“For if you live according to the flesh (senses or pleasures) you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 8:13
“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” – Galatians 6:8
We will never be able to satisfy our own body; the more we give it pleasure the more it wants. Sexual pleasure is one of the biggest destructive traps in this world. Jesus said, “When you look upon a woman with lust, you’ve already committed adultery in your heart.” Is it possible that Jesus was referring to the reality of pleasure; in how once you step off home base you’re already doomed to get third base, knowing that you’re flesh is going to be continually unsatisfied. When we live through our senses, by our feelings, and for good pleasure we will only find frustration, unrest, and lack. Some of us Christians have a hard time living for God because we love the things of the world too much. We are infatuated with worldly pleasures and fulfilling sinful desires. To be a follower of Christ we have to not only deny ourselves, but also deny the love we have for the things of this world.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17
There are a lot of successful people in this world that do not have God in their life. Christians often wonder, how is that they can be happy and successful without knowing The Lord. Many young people who grow up in church end up abandoning their faith because they see non-believers enjoying life more than their church family. This is a simple misunderstanding of the difference between pleasure and peace. How many times do we hear testimonies of famous celebrities and athletes confirm that money and fame cannot buy happiness. Worldly pleasures can give you short sense of enjoyment or false peace, but in the end it’s not everlasting.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of destruction.” – Proverbs 14:12
Nevertheless, we still have our young people chasing these worldly pleasures. I believe as we get older, the more we come to realize that life is not a pursuit of pleasure, but of peace! Achieving world peace is just as hard as achieving personal, internal peace. Due to our own sinful, destructive nature we cannot reach a place of real peace on our own. Remember that we are made up of body, soul, and spirit. Worldly pleasures can only attend to our body’s needs and desires, but what about our spirit? Our spirit cannot be seen in an X-ray or MRI. Neither can things like peace, love, or joy be measured through blood work in a laboratory. It’s a total different sector of life that we tend to neglect when living according to the flesh. These are things that can only be found in our Heavenly Father who created us, and we know our God is Spirit (John 4:24). When we are at war with God we will never have spiritual, internal peace. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins it was a peace treaty signed in blood between God and man.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God.” – Romans 5:1
Sin destroys our sense of peace; everyone knows that awful, guilty feeling after doing something you shouldn’t; because “”there is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD” (Isaiah 48:22). There many people running around trying to undo the wrongful deeds they’ve committed in the past, and they just can’t seem to find their peace. This peace comes with being forgiven for all your sins and being spiritually debt free. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding. It comes from knowing who you are and where you are going. It’s an “all is well with my soul” feeling, regardless of the current circumstance.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jesus speaking, John 14:27).
“The peace Jesus is speaking of enables believers to remain calm in the most wildly fearful circumstances. It enables them to hush a cry, still a riot, rejoice in pain and trial, and sing in the middle of suffering. This peace is never by circumstances, but instead affects and even overrules them.” – John MacArthur
I have many friends who like to party on the weekends. I remember when I used to think that was fun. I also remember the junk and filth I felt in my heart after nights like that. Today I’d rather be in the House of The Lord than any party, anywhere. The peace that fills my soul when I’m in His presence is undeniable and irreplaceable. I’ve experienced and tried many earthly pleasures that the world has to offer, and I can testify that it all comes short to experiencing and knowing the peace of God that’s in Christ Jesus.
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” – Psalms 84:10
In conclusion, we can see another good example of pleasure verse peace in the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus met her at the city well; He exposed her sin by revealing his knowledge of her five husbands, and that the person she was with at the time was not her husband. Could it be possible that she was seeking pleasure or fulfillment from these many men? Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for drink of water. Water is a necessity for survival; our body needs it to function. We also need food to eat to give our body energy and strength. Using an analogy format, let’s replace the water (a basic human need) at the well with pleasure (a basic human desire), and let’s see if we can make the connection.
“Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” – John 4:13-14
Again, Jesus is referring to the temporary things of this world. We may have a good experience with a pleasure, yet we’ll never be ultimately satisfied. When we partake in the fellowship and peace of God through Jesus Christ, our hearts will be fully satisfied! It’s what the Psalmist meant when he said, “The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want.” This peace is consistent and stable unlike our emotions and biological chemicals. When you partake of His cup, you will never thirst again!
So this is what it comes down, do we chose to live a life of pleasure or peace? We want to encourage you to live by faith and not by feelings, for peace and not for pleasure. We believe this gospel of peace will take you to great places in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Until next Wednesday… Blessings! J
Steph y Ces
wednesday encouragements 