“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?
