Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Inadvertent Sacrifice

“35 But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.  Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.” – Psalms 106: 35-38

As a house is built, brick by brick, board by board, nail by nail; so a life is constructed in the same fashion.  Every choice, and every decision, is shaping, molding, defining who we are.  Slowly we build the character of ourselves and leave behind a pattern testifying to that character.  As “mature” adults some would like to think that the adult world and the child world are segregated.  We have adult entertainment (R, PG-13, etc.) and we have children’s entertainment (Disney, Muppets, etc.).  We have bars and clubs for adults to play at; jumpy houses and Chick-fi-la for kids to play at.  Hey, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right?  The reality is it does not stay in Vegas; the sinful lifestyle you choose to live cannot be segregated from those around you, children included.  In fact, when one “mingles among the heathen, and learns their works.”  They are unintentionally offering up their sons and daughters to devils.  They are sacrificing their children to the idols of the world.  How so?  Because kids see what you do; and they emulate your influence. 
  The fact that those under us follow after us is a sobering thing to accept and understand, but a solid truth nonetheless.  Perhaps a more solid and sobering truth is this; we don’t own ANYTHING but our choices.  Men think because they rise in the morning, and work their work during the day, that the paycheck they receive is theirs.  “My money baby!  I worked for it and I am gonna spend it where I see fit.”  Not true, it’s not yours, its God’s.  Women tend to believe (with good reason) that because they birthed their children, they are THEIR children.  Not true, they are not yours, they are God’s.  We don’t own our houses, we don’t own our cars (although sometimes they own us), and we don’t own our clothes.  It is all God’s, and when you die, and when I die, all our stuff is going to someone else.  The only thing that will matter is what we choose to do with our lives.  Do we choose to serve God or do we choose to serve ourselves? 
Now, consider this, just because we own what we choose does not mean that we are exempt from how our influence affects others.  Parents, do you really believe that if you are living a life of sin that your soul is the only one in jeopardy?  Permit me to speak in no uncertain terms; if you are living in sin, the price of your indulgence is not only your own soul, but your children’s as well.  The choices you make affect the choices they will make.  The life you lead will lead them.  You are sacrificing the spiritual life of your sons and daughters unto devils; and for what?  For a temporary pleasure? For a selfish desire? For an inability to renounce your pride?  I beg you to consider your ways, and repent.  Furthermore, those that currently are walking in the faith; we are not exempt, but held to the standard of the gospel.  How careful we ought to be in word, conversation, and deed.  For we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ!  So, not only do our choices affect ourselves, and those around us, but they are the very representation of Jesus Christ. 
The life you lead will lead others, to good or to evil, closer to Christ or further from Him.  Consider your ways, not just for your sake, but for those around you, and coming behind you.  When you (speaking to those in the faith as well) mingle among the world and learn their works.  When you chase after what they chase after, long for what they long for, and serve their idols (and they are many).  It will be a snare unto you, and you will be sacrificing not only your own spiritual well-being, but you will be inadvertently sacrificing the spiritual well-being of your children.  Are the things in this world really worth it?                           




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