Thursday, February 5, 2009

Chapel and a Strip Club Sign.

Unfortunately in the area I live there are several strip clubs and "adult" stores. Depending on which route I take to school, which only lasts twenty minutes tops, I pass two or three of these types of places. The other day I was on my way to school and while I was stopped, waiting for the light to turn green, a billboard of one of these establishments caught my eye. It read: "It only seems kinky the first time." This caused me to reflect. "Wow," I thought to myself, "that's absolutely right, and exceptionally unfortunate!"

Then in chapel our speaker was giving a brief overview of Malachi and the principles for godly living that are found in its pages. After seeing the aforementioned sign, the point he brought out in Malachi 2:17 took on a more resonant application. It reads:

"You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, 'How have we wearied Him?' In that you say, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,' or, 'Where is the God of justice?'"

The people in Malachi's day were living terribly sinful lives but were not met with immediate retribution so they figured God didn't care, or that He even approved their sin. This is unthinkable! However it can be very easy to fall into such a mindset. If we sin and don't confess and forsake it IMMEDIATELY, we are setting ourselves up for such failure.

This premise applies to ALL ares of sin. No matter what type of sin we struggle with personally, we need to lay it down before God and confess it and pray for an outpouring of His strength. With help from God, consistent time in and reflecting on His Word, and close fellowship with other believers, we can keep our sensitivity to sin strong and our desire for sin, while unable to be completely defeated in our mortal state, will subsequently diminish in light of the surpassing joy and delight found only in a right relationship with God.

4 comments:

Trevor said...

I have to admit, I don't quite get the meaning of the sign to you. Could you explain that a bit more? (And no I'm not just pulling your chain)

MegaPhilip said...

It quite blatantly attests to the desensitizing nature of sin. If I am tempted to behave sinfully and give in once, it makes it that much easier to give in the next time. But the next time, while being already a little comfortable with the sin, my proverbial "starting point" would be further than before.

Evil is a process. Nobody wakes up one day and commits something horrible like rape or murder or grand theft. They ease into it. A little compromise here, some rationalization there and you can decieve yourself into committing some horrible sins.

Therefore we must "nip it in the bud" IMMEDIATELY. The moment we are aware of our sinful behavoir is the appropriate moment for repentence. No matter how seemingly small or insignificant the area of sin.

Trevor said...

I got it. That's a good point.

SandMan said...

Good post, Philip. And good to remember while still near the beginning of your life...before sins effects can be extremely deep-rooted (practically speaking of course).

I like your blog.