Sin Only Promises Happiness

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Today’s Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

I’ve been lately recalling my days as a radio DJ. I worked at several stations across Texas throughout the late ’80’s and 90’s. It was a wild time, and I admit that it was fun — in the same way that all sin is fun for the flesh. I will testify that the TV show WKRP was not an exaggeration. On-air and off, I was a composite of Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap  — with just enough of the responsible Andy Travis mixed in to keep me out of  jail and/or court.

But, as exciting as those days were, the pay was low — and, today, I’m thankful to God for that. It helped me learn to live.

I had been trained by the world to associate my paycheck with my self worth, so pay days were depressing during my radio years. Even when the checks arrived on time (or didn’t bounce) they were never enough. Many weeks I had to rush them to bank to avoid bouncing a few check myself.  No matter how hard I worked, no matter how well I did in the ratings, no matter how many people wrote fan letters thanking me for my shows, I never had enough money to experience the “happiness” show business seemed to offer.  My listeners and friends never knew it, but I spent a lot of time crying back then.

But all those tears over low pay eventually led me to God’s light as described in today’s reading.

“You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.  But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Verses 2-7)

I sometimes reflect on my radio days with fondness, but I’m happy to report that I quickly realize those days were actually death. My goal during that time was the happiness of the flesh, and I can’t say I gave  much thought to God’s grace.

Thanks be to God’s wisdom in arranging my radio pay to be so meager. May I never forget my true self worth in Him.