When Poison Looks Like Water
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
There are poisons so clear they look like crystal spring water. Place a glass of deadly liquid beside a glass of pure water, and the eye cannot tell the difference. Both sparkle. Both appear refreshing. Yet one contains life—and the other death. You would never determine which is safe by drinking first and asking questions later. Wisdom demands discernment before the sip.
So it is in life. Not everything that glitters is good. Not every opportunity is a blessing. Not every pleasure is harmless. Many destructive choices come dressed in attractive packaging. Sin rarely presents itself as ugly; it disguises itself as enjoyable, exciting, or even beneficial. The enemy does not tempt us with obvious ruin—he tempts us with something that looks harmless. Appearances can deceive, but truth never does.
This is why Scripture calls us to test what we see against the Word of God. Feelings can mislead. Culture can normalize what God condemns. Popular opinion can applaud what heaven warns against. Discernment comes not from impulse, but from Scripture and prayer. When we evaluate decisions through the lens of God’s truth, we protect our hearts from what only seems safe.
Spend time this week reading Proverbs 5–7 and note how sin is described as attractive before it is revealed as destructive. Reflect on areas where you need greater discernment.
Before choosing a pleasure or path, measure it by God’s Word rather than its appearance. Ask yourself not only “Is it appealing?” but “Is it holy?”
"The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory." — Psalm 64:10
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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