Good reasons to do or not do certain things are plentiful. There are good reasons for being angry with someone. There are good reasons for using a credit card. There are good reasons for not going to work. There are good reasons to do, or not do, most things. The problem is too often, good reasons turn into bad excuses, and bad excuses turn into sin.
Most reasons, even good ones, have an expiration date, or at least they should. Anger eventually should be resolved and forgiveness should set in. Financial crisis’ should pass and debt should be paid down. Sickness, or vacations, or whatever valid reason you have for missing work, should pass, and employment begin again. It is when anger is held in and rehashed that it becomes a problem. It is when the crisis passes – but credit has become a way for instant gratification – that debt begins to drown you. It is when sickness turns into, “I just really don’t feel like going to work,” that people lose their jobs. When we choose to let our good reason become a bad excuse for our inappropriate behavior, we are sinning.
It was as I cleaned my house today that this concept set in. Bailey had a friend spend the night just last weekend. We made sure that the house was as clean as possible. A week later, the dust is back, the footprints are back, the trash is back. Though we have a good reason for not cleaning every day, (we don’t get home most nights until 8:00 p.m.), not cleaning had a consequence. It meant that this morning was full of work. The same goes for most aspects of our lives. The choice starts out with a legitimate reason, but becomes a habit, and the doing, or not doing, becomes easier. Then, suddenly we are in trouble because we have let a good thing go bad.
Sin of any sort is much the same way. It disguises itself as a valid reason, and becomes an excuse to lean on. Sin doesn’t always start out as a blatant attempt to disobey God. Often, it starts as an action, or inaction, that makes complete sense. The problem is when we allow those reasons/excuses to take over and we refuse to take action on them because of our hard, or just very tired, hearts.
A good friend reminded me last night that it is always good to take stock of where you are in your walk with Christ. In fact, that model is biblical. 2 Corinthians 13:5 states, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?” Some days, it is good to just do a heart check. Where am I in my walk with Jesus? Why am I making certain choices? Are my choices glorifying Him and honoring myself? Choosing to ignore sin, actions, or inaction as the case may be, does not change the fact that you are sinning.
Maybe you are in a place where you on track, a place where you are doing what is best for you, your loved ones, and your God. If so, keep on keeping on. If not, if you feel a little uncomfortable with this entire discussion, then maybe you should figure out why. Ask God to show you what is, or is not, working. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offend you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24
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