Taste and See

July 22

The old saying conveys an undisputable truth: The proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Something may look good, but until it’s tasted, one can’t know for sure if it’s palatable. This concept is applicable to many other issues besides the tasting of food. It applies to politicians and worldviews and religious concepts.

All things must be tested. Elected officials who betray the trust that has been placed in them must be voted out of office. Worldviews that usurp freedom must be brought down. Religious tenets that oppose the truth of the Living, Eternal God must be forsaken.

Virtually all false ways demand adherence to their precepts even as they negate freedom to explore other options. Only the Bible invites, “O, taste and see that the Lord is good…” Psalm 34:8 and goes on to affirm, “…blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” God doesn’t expect man to accept Him sight-unseen. He invites sampling—He gives man permission to stick his finger inro the pudding of faith in Him to see if it’s all He claims it to be.

In I Peter 2:3, the Apostle says, “If you have tasted (you see) that the Lord is gracious.” This reconfirms the word spoken by Jesus Himself in John 8:31, 32, “If you hold to My teaching, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Only when we have indulged the bitter fruit of deception can we fully appreciate the excellent harvest that Truth and Freedom afford to us. May we not grasp an appreciation of them too late.