How God is like SY Burrito.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. If I was given a chance to write a letter or something to christians and people around the world, this is probably what I would base it on. That our desires for anything and everything, are in actuality desires for God or His Kingdom (the way he wants things to be).

I think it was a C.S. Lewis idea before it was mine, and I think John Eldredge's book The Journey of Desire is all about it.

Basically it goes something like this: The reason we like anything is because it has some element of perfection (AKA God) in it. 

For instance, I love the Santa Ynez Burrito, my favorite burrito they have is a half chicken half steak deluxe burrito, it has the beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream...everything necessary for an awesome eating experience. 

But in reality the real reason I like it (whether I know it or not) is because those things go so well together, I think God pre-ordained before the foundation of the earth for those ingredients to go so well together. Something in that burrito is close to how we will eat in heaven.

So what I really want is not the burrito, it is heaven. It is perfection. It is God. And something in that burrito is close to the way God intended it to be.

Now, this doesn't only go for why we like certain kinds of food. It goes for everything. I think its why so many people love surfing, because the ocean is one of the few parts of this world that is the same as when God first created it. Much of nature is this way, It grows because God has made it to grow, and hence, we are attracted to be in and around it.

This idea can influence the way we look at sin as well. The reason we want to have sex outside of marriage is because God designed us to enjoy it. The problem with pre-marital or extra-marital sex is that it is not the way God designed it. We, like Abraham are not waiting for God's perfect timing, and therein lies the actual sin, thinking we know better than God. (Follow the thought to its conclusion and you will realize what many people have realized, that sex within marriage is the best way to enjoy sex.)

It applies to drinking too. If the allure of drinking is to forget all your problems and throw off some inhibitions, relax a little bit, that makes sense. 1 Corinthians 7:29 says "I want you to be free from concern." God actually wants us to be drunk! -But not drunk with "wine" instead He desires us to be filled with His spirit (read it in Eph. 4). So the problem again, is trying to do things our own way and not God's way. (Obviously there's a myriad of other problems with being drunk, like all the decisions that people in our time and throughout history have made.)

We have been pre-wired to desire things God has planned for us. God has planned for us love joy and peace in our families, but sin has tainted that. God has planned for us responsibility and power, but sin has entered that are of life as well. God has even planned for us to enjoy tasting, smelling, touching, hearing and seeing great things! He is a creative God.

If I remember correctly, I think C.S. Lewis was describing Joy when he gave us this thought. He was saying that Joy is when we are experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven. (The way God wanted/wants things to be.) 

Everytime we enjoy something it is because in some way we are experiencing, whether we realize it or not, a piece of heaven. 

We have been pre-wired to desire things God plans on giving us. Temptation is when we are offered an imitation of what God has designed for us, but don't settle for the .25 cent frozen burrito when God has a Half and Half Deluxe burrito waiting for you.