I remember hearing a story about a guy who once followed a spiritual leader with some… let’s just say, very questionable advice.
The leader told him, “Don’t suppress the desires of the flesh. If you feel like sleeping around—just do it. Follow your desires. Let the flesh express itself freely.”
So the guy did exactly that. He slept around. Gave into every lustful impulse. And what happened? He wrecked his life. His life crumbled. And worst of all, he was left completely empty inside.
But here’s the beautiful twist: somewhere down that broken road, he met Jesus. He came to know real love, real peace, and real joy. He got married, built a family, and began to walk in the truth. And one day, he confronted that same leader and said, “I followed your advice, and it destroyed me. But then I started a family, began to walk in truth and I found real joy”.
Desire Doesn’t Always Equal Delight
Here’s the thing: he had a desire—but when he acted on it, it didn’t satisfy him. Isn’t that something?
He thought the pleasure would come from giving in to the lust. But it never did. Instead, real fulfillment came later—when he was living a quiet, faithful life, loving his wife, raising his kids, and walking with Jesus. That’s where his joy was.
This is something we need to grasp as believers: not every desire is authentic to who you are now. Some desires come from an old mindset, what the Bible calls “the flesh”—a way of thinking left over from before you were born again.
But Isn’t Sin Attractive?
A lot of well-meaning preachers say things like, “Don’t do this, don’t do that. Sin is attractive. Run away from it!”
And I get where they’re coming from. They’re trying to warn people—and it’s not wrong. But I think it’s incomplete.
Because when we talk about sin like that, we almost make it sound more attractive than it actually is. We paint this picture where God’s ways are dry and boring, and sin is fun but forbidden. And we’re stuck just “running away” from what we secretly want.
But here’s the truth: it only seems attractive because you used to think it was attractive. It’s not actually attractive.
The Tintin Example: What Do You Actually Like?
Let me give you a small personal example. I used to love reading Tintin comics when I was younger. I’d always look forward to them, but we couldn’t afford to buy many.
Later in life, when I moved to North America, I found a library full of Tintin books. I was thrilled—I finally had access to them all! But when I sat down to read them… I just couldn’t. It felt dull. Boring, even.
Wait—didn’t I love Tintin? Turns out, I didn’t. Not anymore.
What I loved was a memory. My brain had linked the idea of Tintin to childhood excitement. It seemed attractive—but it wasn’t anymore. My tastes had changed. I had changed.
So here’s the big question: what do I really enjoy—what I think I like, or what I actually like?
The answer is simple: what I actually enjoy.
You’ve Been Rewired
That’s exactly how it is with sin and the believer. You think sin will satisfy you. But when you go through with it, you’re left empty, restless, and feeling off.
Why? Because you’ve been rewired. You’re not who you used to be. Philippians 2:13 says:
“It is God who works in you, both to will and to act for His good pleasure.”
So you already have new desires within you. God placed them there. And when you align with those—when you love, serve, forgive, or simply walk in peace—you feel right. You feel alive. That’s the real you.
Sin Doesn’t Fit You Anymore
You don’t need to force yourself to hate sin. The more you walk in who you really are, the more you realize—it doesn’t fit you anymore. It’s like wearing old clothes that don’t suit you. You can still wear them, but you’ll feel off the whole time.
So if you’re a believer chasing temporary pleasures, stop and ask: Did it actually satisfy me? Or was I just chasing a feeling?
The truth is: you won’t find life in the flesh. You’ll find it in the Spirit. And that’s not just a theological truth—it’s your daily reality. You’re wired for the things of God. That’s what fills you. That’s what fuels you.
And once you taste it—you’ll never want to go back.
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