EATING WITH IMPUNITY

    While watching the late news the other night we saw one of those world class chefs being interviewed about the different kinds of foods people eat on Super Bowl Sunday. By the way, did you know that more food is eaten by Americans on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year other than Thanksgiving? How’s that for a free fun fact!! That also reminds me of another interesting fact I learned recently from a friend of mine.  Did you know that the average time that plays are actually in progress during a football game (which in the case of the Super Bowl will last more than four hours) is eleven (yes, you read that right) eleven minutes!  Astonishing, however that last little tidbit of information has really nothing to do with this article.  So, back to the chef.  At one point during the interview he was talking about how much he loves to eat. He made the statement, “My one goal in life is to eat with impunity.”  

    I started thinking about that statement and how I had never heard of or thought of the idea of impunity associated with eating  I pulled up dictionary.com, (you know the modern day Webster’s) to make sure I was right about what impunity means.  It told me that impunity comes from a Latin word meaning to be exempt from punishment or immune from detrimental effects.  Now wouldn’t that be super? To be able to spend your life eating without any detrimental effects.  In our day it seems that this is impossible. It seems that there are some detrimental effects tied to everything we eat (at least those things that we really enjoy eating)!  

    While that may be a worthy physical goal, albeit a very difficult (if not impossible) one to achieve there is something we can do in this life without impunity. We can make decisions and choices that will exempt us from punishment.  We can choose to follow Jesus in everything we do and we will not be punished, rather ultimately we will be rewarded.

    When we are in Christ we receive the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). That is what it means to live life with impunity. Paul also declares that for those who are in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). That’s what it means to live life with impunity.  Does it mean, as some would have us to believe, that we will never sin again? No, John reminds Christians that if we claim that we have no sin we are only deceiving ourselves (1 John 1:8). We will continue to sin, however “if we confess our sin, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9) It is when we are walking in the light that His blood cleanses us (1 John 1:7).  That is what it means to live life with impunity.

    There are too many Christians who are walking in the light and who are continually being cleansed by the blood of Jesus living a life of guilt. They are wondering if they are lost or saved.  They question whether or not God is willing to forgive their sin. They allow some sin in the past to keep them from living for God now. They are bound by some present sin, not knowing if they can really receive God's forgiveness.  An old preacher in Alabama used to say living the Christian life is not like being on a yoyo. We are not lost one minute and saved the next.  Jesus came to bring us the abundant life (John 10:10). When we walk with Him we can live that abundant life with impunity and we can know that eternal salvation is ours (1 John 5:13).

    Dear God, help us to know that if we are walking with the Savior that we can live the abundant life with impunity. Father, help us to know that we have an abundant entrance into the eternal home of the soul, where there is rest, sweet rest.  Thank You for saving us and allowing us to partake of Your righteousness.