Our church supports a faith-based, addictions program called, Reformer’s Unanimous. There are Ten Principles that are taught, learned, and memorized by all those who participate in the program. These principles are not just for the drug addict, cigarette smokers and sex offenders. They can and should be applied to the every day life of any Christian who truly wants to be right with God and man. Regardless of who you are (or who you ‘think’ you are) we all sin and are in need of a Savior. Gossip, back-biting (or stabbing,) anger, adultery, stealing, haughtiness, selfishness, etc., these are all just as much an addiction as any form of substance abuse. We try to make one worse than the other but it is not so in the eyes of God. Anything that goes against His Word is sin.
The principle that I’d like to talk about today is #7. “Our sinful habits DO hurt those who follow us.” I had taken it upon myself to teach the RU Principles in my Sunday School class, and while going over this one I asked the teen girls a question. “Can you name one person in the Bible, who went against God, or disobeyed their authority, and God blessed them for it?” Most said no, but two girls had an answer. One said, “Moses.” She talked of when Moses struck the rock and water flowed. She said, “Even though he struck the rock, God allowed the water to come forth.” She went on the to say that she knew Moses didn’t get to go into the Promised Land, but still God allowed the water. The other teen girl said, “Joseph’s brothers.” She said, “Even though they sold Joseph into slavery, God still allowed them to come to Egypt later, and used Joseph to take care of their families.” She acknowledged the fact that they went through famine and all the trials that they went through when they first came before their brother, but still God took care of them and their families. I thought both girls gave good answers. However, they seemed to focus only on the blessing that came AFTER much consequences had been suffered. Consequences suffered, not only by the men who disobeyed, but by their families as well. The girls were not flippant in their answers or disrespectful. They answered well. However, it is the attitude of today that the consequences are worth the fleeting moment of enjoyment, or gratification. “It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.” That is the motto of this generation. I got what I wanted, I’ve said ‘I’m sorry’, now you have to forgive me and move on. No true repentance. No true remorse. More like a satisfaction in knowing they actually COULD have their cake and eat it too. But, they learned it from someone, somewhere, didn’t they? I think if we had the advantage of asking a few folks today what they “would have done”, if they had considered the consequences, we’d be surprised by their answers.
Adam & Eve = Cain & Abel
Abraham & Sarah = Isaac & Ishmael
Jacob & Leah = Dinah & her brothers
Moses = The Promised Land
David & Bathsheba = newborn child, Absalom, Tamar & Amnon
These are just a few folks whose decisions are well in the past, and STILL affecting us today. Their choices did NOT just affect them. Oh, but wait… ALL is and was forgiven, that’s true, but the consequences have remained unto this day. So tell me, WHO or WHAT are you willing to sacrifice to have what you want? Your marriage? Your children? Your grand-children Your great-grand-children? Our sinful habits and choices DO affect those who follow and watch us. Who is watching YOU? And WHERE are you leading them? In the paths of righteousness, I hope. Or, down a road of destruction, unhappiness, bitterness, family or church discord, deceitfulness, etc. You’re right, it is YOUR choice, but at WHOSE expense?
