The names Lindt, Neuhaus, Toblerone, and Godiva are world-renowned for their unique and delicious blends of chocolate and other confectionery. In Europe, there are over thirty museums dedicated to chocolate, such as the Imhoff Schokolade Museum in Cologne, which celebrates 3,000 years of chocolate making by allowing visitors to drink daily from their chocolate fountain.
One of the tools that confectionery makers may use is a process known as batch distillation, where a liquid is poured into a kettle and heat is applied. The undesirable components, such as water, ethers, alcohols, acids and other lightweight materials are driven off by the heat; in fact workers call these substances “lights.” The molecules composing these substances are usually free standing and do not bond with neighboring molecules to give higher molecular weight. The desirable product, however, is not driven away but stays in the kettle and sweetens as the heating proceeds. The molecules of this product readily interact with others to form tight bonds and intertwine to give heavy molecular weight.
When the right amount and duration of heat has been applied, the process is stopped to give the end product a perfect texture and taste. Great care is taken to apply only as much heat as the product can bear, so as not to form carbon or “caramelize” it. By staying in the kettle and being transformed by the heat, soupy and viscous liquids are converted into delectable products which people all over the world cherish and enjoy daily.
The process of making chocolate illustrates a process that God would like to implement in YOUR LIFE and MINE – with our cooperation. First,
God would like to remove the “undesirable components” from our lives; Our SINS! Sin separates us from God and from all that is truly good (Isaiah 59:1-2). Sin also leads to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46). In order to receive the abundant life now (John 10:10) and eternal life to come (Romans 6:23), the impurity of sin must be removed from our lives. God, in His love, has provided the means of purging these impurities from our lives. He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins by dying on the cross (Ephesians 1:7). To be cleansed from our sins through His atoning sacrifice, we must believe and trust Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38).
Secondly, God wants to transform our lives into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). This process requires “heat” – the challenge of living for Christ in an ungodly society. With our faithful cooperation, by His grace, God will mold us more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus – a life that is very sweet, indeed.
Won’t YOU allow Him to make something sweet out of YOUR life?
In order to enjoy the GREATER RICHES of forgiveness and life, we must renounce our false gods and submit to the one TRUE God. We must believe and trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6) and His Son (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
The two sisters have now realized that winning isn’t everything; it can be accompanied by great loss. But through Christ, if we will choose to “lose” our focus on dead idols and turn to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9), then in the end, we will WIN! Where’s YOUR focus?
— Terry Livingston & David A. Sargent