"I wish I don't feel left out, but the truth is I do. I really want to test the waters and see how it goes. This life of following the rules is becoming increasingly boring. I don't think I can continue to miss out on the fun of life any longer. That seems a cross too heavy to bear" - Jemila
"But it's just sexting. I'm not doing it in real practice. I will do it just once and repent later. God is forgiving after all. If Jesus instructed us to forgive our brother 490 times if he seeks forgiveness after each transgression, then surely God Himself is willing to do at least as much" - Nkiruka
"Although this is wrong, I still can't imagine letting this free cash pass me by. It's not like it's an everyday thing, it's just this one night and we are all gone our separate ways. I have read time and time again that God Almighty is slow to anger and quick to forgive. Only yesterday at Church, my pastor reiterated this character about Him" - Tayo
"It's so frustrating to note that as we all long to follow the principles of God, we daily handcuff ourselves unknowingly from the pleasures of life. So, it's okay for Jide to do it, while it's unthinkable for me. I am so tired of this prison" - Chinedu
"If Sister Omosalewa, a former porn star, could receive forgiveness on accepting and confessing Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and even become the Music Director of our local church, I guess it shouldn't be difficult for me to receive forgiveness too. After all, I only intend to test the waters just once. Body nor be firewood. I am also human with blood running through my veins. I feel emotions too. Surely, God will understand and get over it" - Liberty
Hmm, does any of the scenarios presented above sound familiar?
(If you have never thought about doing something you know is wrong and then repenting later, it's okay if you close this blog at this point. Goodbye and enjoy the rest of what you will miss in the lines ahead. If not, let's ride on)
How many times have we all thought about willfully doing something even though we know beyond a shadow of doubt that it's wrong? How many times have we had the assurance that God will forgive us when we repent from a sin we planned in advance? How many times have we nursed the idea of abusing the grace and love of God?
You will agree with me that the innermost thoughts of many as they journey through the valley and mountain called life has been perfectly captured in the fiction above. We all have been at this juncture at some point in our lives. But then, it's important we take note of a few things as regards this issue.
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First of all, we cannot scam, mock or play a fast one on God on the basis of His divine nature of love and forgiveness.
The sooner you take that thought out of your mind, the better. The whole impossible idea of playing a fast one on God is like trying to fill a tank with a basket. When you are aware that something is wrong and you still go ahead to indulge in it, you are not messing with God, you are actually messing with yourself.
"Don't be misled, you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." (Galatians 6:7-9)
Second, the danger of intentional, premediated, habitual sin is not that God will stop forgiving us, but that we will stop seeking His forgiveness.
You might plan to indulge in it only once, but what if you find it difficult to stop? Sin has a way of searing our conscience and killing our faith (Ps 14:1; Jn 3:19-21; Rom 1:18; 8:7; Eph 4:17-19; Col 1:21; Heb 3:12-14; 1 Tim 4:2). On the long run, a sin that is planned in advance will get us to the point where we feel comfortable with the act and no longer feel guilty indulging in it. If we no longer feel guilty, we will no longer ask for forgiveness. And if our faith is being killed by habitual sin, then we will cease to be justified before God because only our faith in Christ can justify us.
Don't get to the point where you are comfortable thinking or doing the wrong things. We are on dangerous ground if we find ourselves planning both our sin and our repentance. Something is amiss in our Christian life if we are relying on God’s grace to cover intentional sin rather than allowing His grace to lead us to greater levels of holiness (Romans 6:14; Titus 2:11-12). Grace is never a licence to sin.
Third, you will no doubt receive forgiveness, but you still get to face the consequences of your wrong actions.
While it is true that people receive forgiveness for their sins, it is even more true that nobody gets away with the consequences of their actions. In other words, we are assured of forgiveness, but we are not assured of escaping the consequences that follows.
Let me give an example, suppose I got myself involved in a fling with someone I wasn't aware is living with HIV/AIDS, and I repent afterwards, having tested the waters, does that mean the consequences of that one night simply vanishes?
Well, it is certain that God can undo the effects of sinful living. But generally speaking, we are stuck with the consequences of our actions. God may have forgiven us, but we usually still reap what we have sown. We often still have to face the music. I may still die young from the effects of the virus, unless God seeks to intervene and nullify the effect of that one night.
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Sister Omosalewa (in our fiction above) will no doubt receive forgiveness, but she still has to live with the consequences of being a former porn star. One of such consequences being that she will never be cited as a moral compass for young people.
When we understand that every wrongdoings is attended by some sort of consequences, and that repenting does not automatically undo the effects of past habits and actions, we are on the path to making the right decision.
Fourth, Purity isn't denial of pleasure. It's choosing God's pleasures over our pleasures.
As difficult as it may seem, the truth remains that God isn't keeping sex away from us, God is keeping sex for us.
But I'm human and body nor be firewood? While it is normal to feel emotions, it is also normal to put these emotions under control. This is one of those things that makes us human: the ability to control our emotions and desires.
We need to get to the point where our love for God outweighs our desires to gratify our own lusts and pleasures.
It is only when we are convinced that God's choices is for our own good, even though we may not understand it at the moment, that we start to trust His decisions for our lives. That is when we truly mature from babes into adulthood.
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Fifth, sure some sins would be fun, but very short lived and dreadful. The life you miss out on is that of a very evil taskmaster.CHECK OUT OTHER TOP ARTICLES:
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Participating in activities that are sinful eventually leads to sorrows anyway. Sin is pleasurable only for a short time. Short term gain for long term pain. It is easy to observe the pain that lustful (money, sex, power) people end up having. I myself am more happier living a life that is pleasing to God. Trust me, I've had many "fun" nights out, that looking back had nothing to do with real "fun". Nothing ever turns out like the devil promises.
When we understand the battle going on in the spirit realm, we will see that the devil only seeks to thwart people's destiny by presenting them with a fake version of the real deal. You may feel on the outside that your neighbor is getting away with his wrong actions, but no, he isn't. He is dying slowly without even knowing it. It's called "death-in-instalments". That is why we must never compare ourselves with others. Trying to compare yourself with another person is living in a state of deception.
As for missing out, I can't imagine anything good I am missing out on. I am a Christian and I do not think I am missing out. I am one of the craziest people I know: I watch and play soccer, I attend Christian rap concerts, I play video games and do every other godly fun thing you can think about. In addition, I have my family, friends, faith and passion for teaching and helping people. I have an amazing and joyful life. So definitely not missing out on anything.
As for missing out, I can't imagine anything good I am missing out on. I am a Christian and I do not think I am missing out. I am one of the craziest people I know: I watch and play soccer, I attend Christian rap concerts, I play video games and do every other godly fun thing you can think about. In addition, I have my family, friends, faith and passion for teaching and helping people. I have an amazing and joyful life. So definitely not missing out on anything.
Often, we hinder our own happiness worrying about whether someone else could be happier if they said, thought or did something different. Why would any normal thinking person choose to travel that path? Today, they might seem to be the ones everyone is hailing, but tomorrow, they are abhorred when the results of their wicked acts are poured out on them.
In conclusion, I want to encourage everyone reading this post to stand firm in the truth and shun the temptations to test the waters. Seriously, it's more fun being on the side of truth than on the side of lies. Your destiny is in great contention, don't lose it to fleeting and ungodly desires. Don't lose it to Satan. Please stay true to whom and whose you are.
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