I'm at the Internet Cafe today, talking about changing plans, the hamster wheel, and God's place in it all. Stop by and check out The Best-Laid Plans, if you would :)
You Americans-who-are-not-Arizonans (and a few others) - did you forget to turn your clocks ahead on Saturday night? Were you late for church? Did the 6pm news come on at 5pm last night? Are you tired?
I will admit to answering yes to at least one of those questions. Which one? I won't say ;)In one way, turning clocks forward in the spring is a lot easier than turning them back in the fall. For many digital clocks, all I have to do is press one button once, and voila! 7:14 becomes 8:14. Or 1:38 becomes 2:38. When I turn them back, however, I have to push that button 23 times. A hassle, as far as I'm concerned.
Yet, the ramifications of the two are the opposite. As relatively difficult as it is to turn clocks back an hour, the "extra hour of sleep" is wonderfully positive. And as simple as it was to advance my bedroom clock an hour, I would have gladly given it back to sleep just 60 more minutes.
Sin is like that too, sometimes. In fact - most of the time, if we're honest. On the surface, just like clicking the "hour button" once, sin looks easy. Too tired to work for your keep? Just take what you need. In a bad mood? Go ahead and scream - self-control is hard. Television already on an inappropriate program? It's much easier to just leave it on than change the channel (or turn it off). Tempted? Give in - it's certainly simpler than resisting.
But the consequences of the "easy way" are not so easy, are they? From arrest to hurt feelings to a quenched spirit to loss of fellowship with friends (or God!), we will almost always regret it. The simple way in the beginning doesn't generally end that way.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 NIV**
How often do you take the "easy way out?" Do you not see the consequences ahead of time, ignore them, or simply figure you can deal with them? How hard is it for you to have a long view of life? And, of course, were you late to church yesterday? (wink)
Comment below, and/ or stop by Living by Grace and we can chat a bit!
Traveling Rough Roads With God's Strength
Cheryl Wyatt had one of her character's say, "God's way is not the easy way." Though I'd grown up Christian, this was a new concept to me. I'd been taught to think in the long term, which as you said God's way is easier. It was a hindrance because I have to live in the short term. I made this quote my mantra for a while, and it made a world of difference.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quote, Lauren! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative analogy. Getting into sin is so much easier than finding our way out of it.
ReplyDeleteWanda - you said in a few, succinct words what I blabbered on about ;)
ReplyDeleteTHANK you :)
Great post, Joanne,
ReplyDeleteI think as humans, we can always find a way to justify sin. And we tend to think of sin in terms of all those things we shouldn't do--like stealing, lying, you know, breaking the commandments. But the Bible takes it a step further and reminds us that any time we *don't do what we know we should*, we are sinning. (James 4:17)
There are plenty of times when I feel God nudging me to do something, maybe witness to a neighbor, or stop my car to help someone out, or maybe pray with someone, but I easily justify the act away. But oh, imagine the deep intimacy if we were to obey Him fully, instantly, and without conditions or qualifications!
Oh, this is good, Joanne! We actually remembered to set our clocks ahead! Good analogy that sin is 'easy,' but the consequences - not so much. Thanks for the reminder! God bless!
ReplyDelete