The Smell of Coffee... or Skunk!?

I have often been driving down the road when a odorous sensation overcomes my olfactory senses. At the first casual sniff, I think "Ahh Coffee. Mmmm. Wish I had some right now." Then upon further contemplation of the second inhalation, I realize that it is not coffee I smell. It is indeed a skunk smell! Skunk?! How could I possibly get two very different odors confused? They are most certainly nothing alike! And I do not wish I had some of that right now or ever! It got me thinking about sin. How often do we get fully engaged in something we think is not only innocent, but delightful and beneficial to us. After a short time, we come to realize that it is not what we thought. Not only is it not what we thought, but it is disgusting! Satan is sly and knows how to use what we love, what we are attracted to to lure us into a place where we would not normally, consciously plan to go. Once we are in the middle of it, we realize that we are immersed in something similar to skunk! So what do we do? How do we get out of that mess? How do we get rid of the smell?! First, I think the sooner we "about face" the better! As soon as we realize that we are in the middle of something awful, we need to stop and recognize the error of our ways. And we don't just stop and continue to stare at it and speculate if we are justified in our actions. No! We need to run the other way! Distract ourselves with something more honorable. The Bible says in Philippines chapter 4 to think on good things. Think on things that are good, true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful and respected. This is not just a terrific feel-good verse to print out and post. This is one of those verses to live by, a mantra to rehearse. When I have been tempted to worry, this verse has saved me from an evening of heartburn. When I was dealing with anxiety, this verse helped me hourly on those tumultuous days. When I hear negative gossip about a colleague, this verse helps me turn the negative into a positive. Yes. This is a verse to commit to heart. So, when you think you smell coffee and it turns out to be skunk, remember this verse, think about something true and right, and go find yourself a cup of freshly brewed coffee.