Take Heed
There are some very rough people in this world, people who have done the worst things imaginable to their victims. The horrendous acts done to people by those with the power and inclination to do so are shameful and we would do well not to speak of the details of such acts at all. This is often an evil, vile world and those who perpetuate evil acts are deserving of punishment for their actions.
But I wonder…how close am I to being one of those types of people? How close are you?
We like to think of ourselves as being people who would never go down certain paths. We read the paper or see the news on television and could never even imagine doing the disgraceful deeds that are reported each and every day. “I could never do something so awful” we say or think as we learn of repulsive acts done by people who often live in our own neighborhoods.
However, there is something we need to remember: any of us could become the worst of us.
How many sinful choices does it take for us to head down a path that leads to abhorrent behavior? I submit to you that it could only take one bad decision for many of us to get in such a big mess that we keep making bad decisions to try to get out of the consequences of our first one. One wrong move could lead to a life of appalling actions.
To put it differently, as we see the repugnant deeds done by others, we must realize that we are just as susceptible to the same sinful urges which led them down the path they are on. Because of this, we should do what 1 Corinthians 10:12 says and take heed lest we fall.
Don’t think you are impervious to the schemes of satan. Stay in the Word of God. Stay with the people of God. Stay walking with the Son of God in the Spirit of God. When it comes to becoming one who others look at as a sickeningly immoral person…we should all take heed lest we fall.
In Christ,
Matt Cannon
Director of Missions