Many of us allow sin to hang around because it doesn’t
seem to be doing much harm. We may convince ourselves that the sin is ‘small’
because it doesn’t hurt us or anyone else. “So what if I watch
porn? I’m not doing anyone any harm. I’m just chillin’ in my room, mindin’ my
own business. I don’t lie (most times), I’m not having sex, I don’t steal
(unless its meat from the pot), and I help people whenever I can. I think God can
cut me some slack, and let a brother live a little.”
I used to think like this and then I learned the hard
way, what happens when you let ‘little’ sins stick around. What began as
watching porn maybe once a week, turned into an addiction, where I watched porn
and masturbated, sometimes 5 times a day. From there, I started longing for the real thing, and when the opportunity to have sex presented itself, I barely had a second thought about it. It’s crazy how a 1 minute porn clip, that was watched while in
the 2nd grade, could evolve into much more, when the problem was ignored. Crazy, but not surprising.
“These
desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives
birth to death.” – James 1:15
Things could have gone far south, but God stepped in
before this stronghold could ruin my life. Freeing me from the addiction, God
took me through a long cleansing period. I wanted to give up so badly. I spent
countless nights, lying wide awake in bed, playing tug of war with my urges to
sin. My mind was a mess and it seemed like every other thought was of a naked
woman. With what I thought was one little sin, I dug myself into a huge hole. God literally stepped in and yanked me out of a lifestyle that would have simply ruined me.
God does not give us orders to
enslave us, He blessed us with commandments to save us. The devil wants to
trick us into believing that God is holding out on us. But the truth is, God
gives us a code of living so that things will be well with us (Deuteronomy
12:28).
Beware
of the little foxes that spoil the vine. (Songs of Solomon 2:15)
So brothers and sisters, I encourage you today to not
take sin lightly. Even the seemingly small things can come back to bite
you. You saw how porn almost ruined my life. Don't underestimate small beginnings. Think of people who have affairs and end up destroying their families. Think of
people who lashed out in anger at the wrong moment and found themselves in
jail. Think of those sex slave customers who are so urge driven, they are
willing to defile children. Do you think they grew up dreaming about doing
those things or being that way? I doubt it. But somewhere in their development,
a tiny habit was formed and was never dealt with. So it grew and grew, turning feelings and emotions that were meant for good, into ultimate perversions.
Examine yourself as God would. Identify those small
sins in your life, whether they are habits in word, thought, or action. Pray
against them, but also do your part in waging war against them. You may have no
idea what that tiny sin can turn into or who else’s life it could destroy. Here are two tips I wish I had known earlier:
1. If you try to manage sin, it will end up controlling you. Instead of trying to manage it, flee from it, completely. Seriously, leave no room. Figure out what your triggers are and shut them down.
2. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Confide in God-fearing friends who will hold you accountable. If you ain’t got
none, it’s time to reevaluate your circle.
“Flee
the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22
Peace
and Love,
I used to think like this and then I learned the hard way, what happens when you let ‘little’ sins stick around. What began as watching porn maybe once a week, turned into an addiction, where I watched porn and masturbated, sometimes 5 times a day. From there, I started longing for the real thing, and when the opportunity to have sex presented itself, I barely had a second thought about it. It’s crazy how a 1 minute porn clip, that was watched while in the 2nd grade, could evolve into much more, when the problem was ignored. Crazy, but not surprising.
Things could have gone far south, but God stepped in before this stronghold could ruin my life. Freeing me from the addiction, God took me through a long cleansing period. I wanted to give up so badly. I spent countless nights, lying wide awake in bed, playing tug of war with my urges to sin. My mind was a mess and it seemed like every other thought was of a naked woman. With what I thought was one little sin, I dug myself into a huge hole. God literally stepped in and yanked me out of a lifestyle that would have simply ruined me.
So brothers and sisters, I encourage you today to not take sin lightly. Even the seemingly small things can come back to bite you. You saw how porn almost ruined my life. Don't underestimate small beginnings. Think of people who have affairs and end up destroying their families. Think of people who lashed out in anger at the wrong moment and found themselves in jail. Think of those sex slave customers who are so urge driven, they are willing to defile children. Do you think they grew up dreaming about doing those things or being that way? I doubt it. But somewhere in their development, a tiny habit was formed and was never dealt with. So it grew and grew, turning feelings and emotions that were meant for good, into ultimate perversions.
Examine yourself as God would. Identify those small sins in your life, whether they are habits in word, thought, or action. Pray against them, but also do your part in waging war against them. You may have no idea what that tiny sin can turn into or who else’s life it could destroy. Here are two tips I wish I had known earlier:
1. If you try to manage sin, it will end up controlling you. Instead of trying to manage it, flee from it, completely. Seriously, leave no room. Figure out what your triggers are and shut them down.
2. Teamwork makes the dream work. Confide in God-fearing friends who will hold you accountable. If you ain’t got none, it’s time to reevaluate your circle.
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22
No comments:
Post a Comment