Friday, September 26, 2008

SEPARATION FROM SINFUL PLEASURES

Hebrews 11:24-25 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Moses could have had it all by worldly standards but chose to give it up. God had a bigger and better plan for Moses and even though Moses could not have possibly known how big and how much better that plan was, he turned is back on the pleasures of sin for a season.
When we see someone whose life is ravaged by sin, when they have reached the depths of despair and destruction we sometimes ask, "How could anyone get in that condition?"
The simple answer is one step at a time. Sin is progressive. That is the way it gets it's hold on people, one little step at time. I once heard a sermon by Dr. Adrian Rodgers and something really stuck in my mind from that sermon. He said, "Sin will take you farther than you are willing to stray. Sin will keep you longer than you are willing to stay, and sin will cost you more than you are willing to pay." I am not sure if this was an original thought with him but it certainly has a profound truth.
Most of us are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke Chapter 15. If you do not know it I suggest you read and reread it until it is hidden in your heart. The son left his fathers house with his inheritance and squandered it all on sinful living until he wound up eating what the hogs left over. When he came to himself he realized that even the hired labor at his father's house lived better than he did. He went home and was welcomed with open arms by his loving father.
The thing that has always amazed me is that the son could have turned and went home at any time. He didn't have to wait until he hit rock bottom before he separated himself from the sinful pleasures of the world and went home. People can turn around at any time but often they wait until there is no where else left to go.
Don't let sin gradually drag you to the pig pen. Turn around and go back to the Father's house. He is always waiting with open arms.

2 comments:

  1. Sometimes we don't realize we're drifting. We just look up and we are way out there, just like the prodical son, it starts out fun and exciting and we keep going and going not realizing we have drifted from God. The good thing is He doesn't leave us and He's alway glad when we come back.

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