NECESSARY BITTERNESS?
Denatonium is a chemical compound discovered by accident in 1958. It has the misfortune of having the bitterest taste of all chemicals. It is so bitter that, if you were to mix only 10 parts per million in a gallon of milk, it would make even a teaspoon of the milk nearly impossible to drink.
So it’s not surprising that one of its commercial names is “Aversion.” But how could such a nasty chemical ever hope to have commercial value or be of any use to humans? No one would ever want to put it in their mouth. Chemical flavoring is only of value if it enhances or improves the taste of something, right?
But what if a toxin that is deadly to humans happens to have a pleasant flavor? For instance, antifreeze has a sweet taste to both humans and
animals. Yet it is a deadly toxin. It will kill the person or animal who consumes it, as it has done to thousands of pets and many children.
And herein lies the value of Denatonium. As an excellent “aversive agent,” Denatonium is added to household products like antifreeze, windshield washer, rat poison, solvents, varnishes, and paints to prevent a child or pet from accidentally ingesting them. Some American states actually require Denatonium additives to be in such products before they can be bought or sold. In fact, Denatonium has been credited with saving many lives. It’s terrible taste serves as a warning to all who might otherwise consume a poison.
You know, in a way, God has done the same thing to guard us against the poisons that would destroy our souls. He adds a bitter taste to sin, to keep us from enjoying its deadly brew. But a measure of bitterness is a necessary additive to all of life. God must add some bitterness to our lives to humble us and protect us from pride that always precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18), to guard us against arrogance, which turns God’s stomach (1 Peter 5:5), to keep us from heartlessness and ruthlessness, which cut us off from God’s mercy (Matthew 6:15).
God may allow us to be broken physically to teach us compassion for the sick and infirm. He may even allow us to be broken spiritually by temptation and sin – that we might learn our desperate need for God’s forgiveness and teach us to be forgiving toward others (Romans 5:20; 11:32; Galatians 3:19-24).
God gets no delight in seeing us suffer. He allows bitterness to do its “harsh work” in us – perhaps a very painful work – that we may be transformed into His image and become true sons of God (Luke 6:35-36).
PRAYER: Dear Father in heaven, help me to understand that the bitter side of life has its essential purpose in my life – to protect me from the deadly toxins of sin, pride, unforgiveness, bitterness, and heartlessness – and to make me more like You and more fit for heaven.
In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
(From The 593rd ESC Book of Inspiration for Spiritual Resiliency)