God gave us all free will; the choice to choose. You choose your actions; God’s Word will tell you the consequences. It’s that easy. If you choose to either live in or accept sin for anything other than what it is then you by default are accepting the consequences of the sin. Accepting and tolerating sin has permeated our lives and it’s time for Christians to stand up for something other than sin.
What has happened in our society is that 1) we have changed the meaning of sin so that it doesn’t look and feel so bad, 2) we have just become immune to sin being what it is because then there really are no consequences, 3) Christians no longer are standing up for all of God’s Word and saying ‘no’ to sin; all in the name of people pleasing and tolerance. As a result judgment is upon us and in larger ways that most comprehend. To this the answer really and truly is repentance for there is no other way.
So what are the consequences of accepting sin? Many although here are three:
1- Your understanding of Truth, God and His plan for your life are distorted. When you deny God’s Word you deny His power and all operations in your life. The power that you maybe once had will be gone. No longer will Truth prevail but rather lies; and more lies until everything in your life has no meaning of anything beyond the material and now. Beyond yourself there will be nothing yet you will not know it because the understanding too will be gone. Your life will turn into nothing more than a meaningless selfie in the midst of the selfie sea of lost souls all searching but never finding.
God has a plan for your life and the only way that you can live in it is to 1) get with Him to get it, 2) live in the accordance of His Word. Claiming to be a Christian yet choosing sin above Him will never put you in the plan that ‘He’ has for you. He is too just to give you all of what He has when you aren’t who you need to be in order to receive. Trying to deceive God simply will not work and so therefore; the consequence of sin will sting and until you make the choice to turn back to Him and deny the works of the enemy in all areas of your life.
2- Your life will be separated from Him. Sin separates. Period. There is no life walking with Jesus to the full; how could there be? Imagine coming to Christ and claiming that you follow Him yet just on Sundays because ya know; he parties and debauchery are all the other days of the week. Oh yes let’s go straight to 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 where it’s clear: ‘Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.’ So in other words- your choice to sin, accept it, live in it or tolerate it will cause you lose anything good from God. And because God withholds no good thing from those who love Him your choice to turn your back will cause you to live separated from Him. You see; walking with Jesus isn’t a game and it obviously isn’t for everyone because if it were our society wouldn’t be in the mess that it is.
Being separated from the Lord is a very lonely place. Sin does not and cannot bring anyone closer to Him. It is a separator and the enemy knows this. The good news is that there is repentance and in Acts 3:19 it tells us ‘Repent, and seek forgiveness so that times of refreshing may come.’ Through repentance the wall of sin can be removed and you can come closer to the Lord. It though is your choice. The choice to reap the harvest of obedience or the curses of disobedience. Either way; God’s Word will not change because you do not like it and want to be liked by man.
3- Your identity will be stolen through deception of the enemy. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy and today that has become so cliche to hear but what does it mean? It means exactly that! The enemy has it out for you and any way he can get you to live in and accept sin he has the foothold in.
Once the enemy gets you to believe the lie and lies you are toast. The enemy will steal your identity and use you as a tool for him. One need not look any further than Hollywood and see those who once were for Him now against Him. They are pawns for the devil. And if you aren’t careful you will be too.
When you know who you are in Christ you will know the ploys of the enemy. You will be able to thwart all his endeavors against you and you will live in victory in Christ. You will be strong enough to stand up for righteousness and you will not bow down to accepting, tolerating and living in sin because you know better. You will not be moved when people call you bigots, racists, homophobe, intolerant or any other name that they want to come up with because it simply will not matter. It just won’t because you know who you are in Christ and the enemy can’t take that away.
If you want your life to have the proper meaning to it then understand this brothers and sisters it’s time now to remove the sin and stop tolerating it and accepting it. It’s time to rebuke those who tell you that you as a Christian need to just let go of the Truth’s of the Bible because they are outdated. That’s pure rubbish! God’s Word is clear: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” so it is written in Hebrews 13:8. When they tell you that you need to just accept sin because it’s not so bad rebuke it. When they tell you that your leadership must tolerate every form of perversion in your church or business rebuke it. If it does not line up with the Word of God then rebuke it. You must otherwise you will simply fall prey to the sin and it’s consequences and not even know what happened. And remember there is no freedom in sin or the consequences that it produces. There is only freedom in Christ and obedience to Him at all times in all ways.
______________________________________________________
Today’s Scripture
Romans 8:31-32 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
______________________________________________________
Forgiveness Tip #15
Forgiveness will change your life in ways that fortunes can’t.
______________________________________________________
Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries and host of ‘Living in Forgiveness’ television and radio programs that airs daily to over 3 Billion people on 5 continents. To learn more about righteous living and the love of Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
Copyright 2016 © julieblair.com. All rights reserved. julieblair