It’s Not That Bad
Is this you when it comes to sin in your life?
It’s minor.
No biggie.
Just a little white lie.
Merely a simple thought, no harm if I’m not acting on it.
When in reality, the devil has just severed your arm off, and you're bleeding out everywhere.
“Tis but a scratch!”
You let it go.
Continue to allow it to fester.
And the next thing you know, you’ve lost both arms.
Are you still in denial?
Pretending like it’s not that bad?
“It’s just a flesh wound.”
The Wake Up Call
If you are not familiar with the movie scenes from above, let me elaborate. (*NOTE: I do NOT approve of, nor condone this movie, but the imagery fits perfectly for our topic)
King Arthur has just met the Black Knight on his journey to Camelot, where he is seeking brave knights to join him at the round table. Arthur needs to cross a small bridge, which the Black Knight is guarding and refuses to let him pass. The battle begins, and Arthur quickly removes the Knight’s left arm. Seemingly unfazed by the encounter, the Black Knight ignores his wound and continues on with the duel, brushing it off as “but a scratch”.
As the fighting continues, King Arthur manages to sever every limb from the Knight’s body, and still the man is in denial of the severity of his injuries. He wishes to continue, as if nothing out of the ordinary has just occurred.
This is the same attitude I am seeing toward sin in our lives, and it seems to be growing within the big “C” church today. We brush it off, ignoring the severity of the situation, and continue on with our lives as if nothing is going awry.
“Nothing to see here. It’s not that bad!”
Ephesians tells a different story-
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes- these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.(emphasis added) Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! (emphasis added)
For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
‘Awake, O sleeper,
Rise up from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.’
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. (emphasis added) Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:1-20)
Dear friends, it is way past time we start walking as children of the Light, and quit dancing in and out of the shadows. I have said it before and I will repeat it again and again-
Sin Will Not Be Contained!
If you truly believe, the thoughts you have deep in the back of your mind, are not harmful.
If you have convinced yourself, those images you stare at occasionally, help to keep your marriage exciting.
If you think those movies you watch, books you read or music you listen to that would make your mother blush, isn’t that bad.
You may need to hit your knees and repent.
A little flirtatious at work? But, I’m not doing anything…..
Cheat a little on your taxes? Everyone fudges a little. The government already takes too much of my money…..
Chatting about someone else’s private business to a mutual friend? I just thought I would share, so we all can be praying for them….
You may need to cry out for forgiveness.
All these little things, over time, add up to be very large items, which outgrown their containers faster than we like to admit. You see, that’s another deception from Satan we have bought- hook, line and sinker.
If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you know this scene very well. (*NOTE: I DO approve of these movies,(and books) and highly recommend you watching/reading them.)
Bilbo has just left for his final adventure, dropping the ring as he exits his home for the last time. (By the prodding of Gandolf, of course) Frodo, coming home in search of his uncle, finds both the ring and Gandolf waiting for him, instead of Bilbo.
The wise wizard has a suspicion, this is no ordinary ring, but he must be certain. Sealing it in an envelope, he instructs Frodo to, “Keep it secret. Keep it safe.”, until he can return to the Shire.
These are the same whispers you hear from the forked tongue of the lying serpent. “Keep it secret. No one has to know. It will stay safe.”
Lies!
Foolishness!
Don’t believe it! Run away from the wicked darkness and back to the Light!
The whole mission of the evil one, is to consume, kill and destroy as much of God’s creation as he possibly can.
Did you just covet your neighbors new car? Did envy just rise up in your heart? “Keep it secret. Keep it safe.” says the voice with a hiss….
Jealousy overtake you, when a coworker receives a promotion you believed should have been yours? “Keep it secret. Keep it safe” says the gentle whisper….
Anger pound through your veins, when you see the face of the person who wronged you months ago, and unforgiveness wraps its band tighter around your heart? “Keep it secret. Keep it safe.” says the darkness…
“The wages of sin is death”
I don’t have to tell you about this verse in Romans, or do I? It is one most people are familiar with, and yet do not heed.
Do we play around with all manner of fleshly, ungodly desires because we really don’t believe the words Paul wrote to the church in Rome, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit?
Is this why we brush off our unrighteous behavior as minuscule, because we do not take this warning seriously?
Today, I am sounding an alarm and praying those within the body of Christ will wake up. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! (Romans 3:23) Not one of us is righteous, (Romans 3:10) so it’s high time we stop pretending we are not sinful, wretched individuals, and fall on our faces before God Almighty and ask Him to cleanse us from all filth.
I, myself, practice what I proclaim- as this very week, the Lord brought to my remembrance some unrepentant sin in my life. It was something, I too, thought wasn’t that big of a deal, but I was wrong. I fell on my face, and prayed for God to forgive me and wash me clean!
Oh! That we would hate our wicked behavior! I pray our unholy actions will sicken our stomaches and cause us to run to the Father for purification.
In order for the Bride of Christ, to be effective against the forces of darkness, we MUST be pure. There is nothing more powerful, than the gleaming, white garment of the saint who continuously remains under the flow of the Blood of the Lamb.
Don’t you realize the crisp, clean robes of righteousness, reflect and magnify the glory of God to a broken and lost world, shining brilliant Light into the darkest of places?
No wonder the devil works overtime to try and soil our covering.
I encourage you to pray a bold prayer this week, just as King David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24:
“Search me (thoroughly), O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Allow the Lord to reveal to you, all ungodliness that needs to be confessed and repented of. Do not run from the Holy Fire, which seeks to burn away the dross and all impurities.
There is too much at stake, in the current world we live in, to shrug off our behavior and try to ignore it, acting like it’s not that bad. “Tis but a scratch.”
Armor up! Prepare for war! The battle rages, and we must be soldiers at the ready.
The last time I checked the headlines- It’s vile across all corners of the globe, and it only continues to deteriorate.
Crucify your flesh, take up your cross and sword, and let’s go fight the good fight with clean hands and a pure heart!