Monday, February 7, 2011

How To Have A Miserable Life

"So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters' fiancés, "Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it." But the young men thought he was only joking." - Genesis 19:14

Living for God and the world at the same time is impossible. It is the fastest way I know to have a miserable life. It's kind of like a soldier who doesn't know what side to fight for. Instead of choosing sides, he puts on pieces of both army's uniform, marches out to battle and gets shot at from both sides! When you attempt to live a life for God and the world simultaneously you end up compromising. Lot compromised. He lived in a terribly wicked city called Sodom. Eventually, he even became a leader in this city. God was going to judge the people of Sodom for its sin. Lot wised up and went to tell his son-in-laws to leave the city because judgment was coming, but they didn't know whether to believe him or not. Lot lived a compromised life and those closest to him just thought he was joking around about the Lord since his lifestyle had always reflected that. Lot had no witness to them and because of it they died in Sodom's judgment. Lot was saved only at the request of Abraham's prayer (Genesis 19:29). Lot straddled the fence of righteousness and wickedness far too long and paid for it with a great price - the loss of most of his family. Straddling the fence hurts! You can stop straddling the fence and get over those things that so easily trip you up with the Lord's help.

What about you? Are you living a life of compromise? Can others tell what you live for? Can they say, "This guy is definitely the real thing. His actions live up to his belief." Maybe you are getting weaker spiritually. Have you become comfortable with certain sins that used to make you instantly turn to the Lord for forgiveness? Are you more tolerant of evil than ever before? Are you less interested in spiritual matters today than before? Like Lot, do your words have no effect on those who do not know the Lord because of your compromised life? James 1:23-24 says," Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

When you compromise, you can't pull others up. You'll only pull them down. I pray you return again to your first love and bury the sin and compromise surrounding your life. Your life will be miserable until you sell out completely to Christ and allow Him to be Lord of your life. Then your life will be filled with joy as you wholeheartedly follow Jesus.

No comments:

Post a Comment