Have you ever looked out over a lake that didn't have one wave yet, or at least seen pictures like this. The water looks like glass, and it just seems so peaceful. The idea of there being any danger associated with that water probably doesn't even cross your mind. Now compare that to the thought of a rushing river. One where the water has the appearance of being white because the current is so strong and it is moving down stream so fast. The idea of even putting one foot in this water could seem scary. You know just by looking at it that you could be swept away and drown. But the reality is, you can drown in both of these bodies of water, one just has the appearance of being safe.
This is very much how the enemy comes at us with sin. There are certain sins that have danger written all over them, and so it is quite obvious to stay clear of them. However, what about the ones that don't? Isn't that the ones that satan gets us to be the most attracted to? For example, "the little white lie"told to "protect", or the "compliment" to that man or woman, even though your married. Or how about this one, when satan lies and tells you the "thing" you want to do doesn't have an impact on anyone but you, so just do it. Satan can disguise sins to seem harmless, but they never really are. It's his goal to make them look attractive enough to distract you in that moment and at least get you to consider it. He knows if he can get you to this place long enough, then eventually you will do it. Now go back to the 2 different kinds of water I mentioned earlier....do you know the best way to make sure you never drown in either? You just don't go near that water! That's right, you can't drown in water you never got in to begin with. And sin is the same way. You will never find someone who got in over their head by walking away from the temptation, or telling the truth instead of flirting with the lie. The best way to avoid getting in trouble with sin is to avoid the sin all together.
I'm writing this today because I just felt God was speaking to me about how too many times we (Christians) are ok with sin when it doesn't "look bad" on the outside. But I want you to know that those are the sins that satan uses to desensitize you. He wants you to become too confident that you have power over this sin, it doesn't have power over you. He wants you to continue down that "harmless" path. Let me give you an example.....Let's say a new person starts in the office. You immediately recognize they are attractive, but think nothing of it. Then a "hi" gets said in passing, then a compliment is passed back and forth, and before you know it your talking on a pretty regular basis, but you'eve never mentioned this to your spouse. Now you find out there is a company event coming up and spouses are invited. The fear that goes over you is "what if that person comes up and talks to me in front of my spouse? How will I explain this?" And it's all because you started by putting one foot in the water, when really you should have kept your distance. I know that example may be a bit extreme to some, but I hope the point came across. The enemy will make something look so innocent, and then he will turn the tables on you. He doesn't care about you, so he wants to see you go down. And he knows if he just leads you down the path with temptation, and you follow, then eventually he will get you to fall. But not if you avoid it all together!
It doesn't matter what the sin is, what matters is why are you entertaining it? If it isn't drawing you closer to God, then there is a good chance it's getting in the way of God. And that's a problem! We, as Christians, need to look at what we have become ok with. Whether you think so or not, the rest of the world is looking at what we think is ok, and when we accept it, what are we saying to them? Ask God to help you take a look at the things you are entertaining, the way you talk, the things you are ok with in this world...and then let Him show you the places where you simply got to close to the water, orthe time you jumped right in. Don't wait until your drowning to realize there's a problem.
God, thank You for the Holy Spirit. Your Word says You sent Him as a helper, so it's my prayer today that we would let His voice be louder than satan's in our lives. Give us spiritual eyes to see the danger of things BEFORE we let them have a place in our life. And give us the strength to walk away from sin, not because one looks worse than another, but simply because none of it is pleasing to You. And remind us that when we claim Your name, we are saying to a lost world "I stand for what God stands for"....and let us KNOW the seriousness of that. In Jesus name, Amen
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