I get embarrassed when I eat something I’m not supposed to eat.

As one with several allergies and sensitivities, it comes up from time to time, most recently because I was brought regular fries after I specified I needed gluten-free. By the time the waiter told me the fries hadn’t been gluten free, it was too late. I’d already been snacking on them, and could now expect the side-effects I experience when I eat gluten. Yet I didn’t make a fuss.

I kept quiet because I was embarrassed. I felt I should’ve known better, since my fries are never seasoned at that restaurant, but those were. I should’ve known to question them.

When I explained how embarrassing I find that kind of situation to my husband, I realized not everyone feels that way. So why does eating something I shouldn’t embarrass me?

I don’t like to be wrong. I hate to make mistakes that can’t be undone. Once I eat something, that’s it. No going back. I’m fully committed, even if it turns out to have been a mistake.

I think of Eve, her mouth full of forbidden fruit, and I think of Adam, following suit.

Though it doesn’t necessarily involve the physical act of eating, each of us follow after their example, fully committed to the ripe sins we pick and devour. We should’ve known. We vow to do better next time. But we commit fully, time and time again, filling our spiritual bellies with that which kills.

There’s no going back. We can’t undo our unfaithfulness to our Creator. We and our fallen world will experience consequences.

But, in our shame and despair, Jesus comes to offer us a radically different meal.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NET)

This whole sin mess started with food. With eating what we were not to eat. And now, despite all the bad meals we’ve swallowed, in Jesus, we’re offered the Bread of Life and Living Water.

He took our need for this so seriously that he died to satisfy my hunger and yours. After turning to Christ, will we never choose sin again? I’m sorry to say that I know we will. Yet in Christ, our sins are forgiven, washed clean, and we need not be embarrassed or ashamed. We need only to come to him and to believe in him, the Bread of Life, the Living Water.

PS There are just a few days left in the 31 Days of 5 Minute Free Write challenge and link up going on over at Creativeandfree.com. Check it out here or all of my related posts here. My disclaimer for today is that this post used the prompt for the day (eat) but took a lot more than 5 minutes.