Moms (and even those who aren't moms) have seen this before. Your precious 2 year old is reaching for something you don't want him/her to touch. So you call out, "No no, mustn't touch." And what does that precious little angel do? That darling, innocent child will look you straight in the eyes, while stretching a tiny little hand towards the object he/she knows is forbidden. And your baby, your sweet little one, will continue to defy you until you call out once more or take a step forward. You suddenly realize this child is not as innocent as you once thought. Secretly, you hope the "terrible twos" and even more "terrible threes" go by quickly, because this is what toddlerhood is all about: seeing how far they can go before Mommy or Daddy stops them.
We're not much different from toddlers in God's eyes. We like to test our boundaries and see how far we can go before we actually sin.
Take drinking, for instance. We know Scripture tells us we shouldn't get drunk (see for instance Proverbs 20:1, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:18). Rather than look for ways to keep away from drunkenness and avoid sin, many will ask, "How much can I drink before I'm considered drunk? Is it okay to feel buzzed? Is being tipsy the same as being drunk?" Basically the question is, "How far can I go before God tells me No?"
Clothing is another bone of contention for many. The Bible speaks of being modest (1 Timothy 2:9), but doesn't go into specifics. So the question becomes, just what is modesty? "As long as I'm covered I'm being modest. How tight my clothes are shouldn't matter." Or another popular excuse, "I'm not being immodest, I'm just dressing like everyone else. I don't want to stand out because I'm so different. Even Jesus dressed like all the other Jews."
Or what about flirting? "Is it okay to flirt if I don't go all the way? If I just bat my eyes or show a little skin, that still fornication/adultery?"
Jesus was very clear about boundaries. He wants us to stay away from "the edge", the precipice, that area where we're just shy of sinning, because He knows that's a dangerous place to be. You don't let your children walk on the edge of the highway, do you? Even if they aren't in the path of an oncoming car, they're close enough to fall at any moment. No loving parent would allow their child to take that kind of risk. Our Heavenly Father is an even more loving parent than we are.
Consider Jesus' teaching when it came to the meaning of adultery: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28). To Jesus, the actual act alone wasn't the only sin. Thinking about sin leads to it, so it's important to keep our minds clear of sin as well as the rest of our bodies (Philippians 4:8).
Rather than test our boundaries, we should run from sin. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts." (Romans 6:12). The closer we choose to play near fire, the more likely the chance we'll get burned. Similarly, the closer we choose to play near sin, the more likely the chance we'll fall into it, and we can't blame anyone but ourselves once we're in that position. "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27).
How do we combat this desire to live on the edge? By being drastic. If the thoughts come into your head, that's an indication it's time to run.
Say you're out with friends and the topic of having a couple of drinks comes up. If you feel the need to count and try to determine how many drinks are acceptable and how far you can go before you've gone too far, if your mind is so occupied with how close you can get to sin before you fall into it, walk away. It's better not to even start drinking so you don't have to decide when to stop. That may sound too drastic for some, but consider Jesus' words: "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30). I can't think of anything more drastic than removing body parts. Now, Jesus isn't saying you need to literally cut off a hand or pull out your eyes. What He is saying, is that whatever you might lose isn't worth more than your life. So what if your friends think you're dull because you won't have a drink with them? So what if you're considered a prude because you dress modestly and cover up more than others? So what if everyone else is flirting with the new co-worker except you? You don't miss out on anything by avoiding evil. Keeping our minds and bodies pure is a much better, safer, and healthier choice. And most importantly, it's what honors God.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
We're not much different from toddlers in God's eyes. We like to test our boundaries and see how far we can go before we actually sin.
Take drinking, for instance. We know Scripture tells us we shouldn't get drunk (see for instance Proverbs 20:1, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:18). Rather than look for ways to keep away from drunkenness and avoid sin, many will ask, "How much can I drink before I'm considered drunk? Is it okay to feel buzzed? Is being tipsy the same as being drunk?" Basically the question is, "How far can I go before God tells me No?"
Clothing is another bone of contention for many. The Bible speaks of being modest (1 Timothy 2:9), but doesn't go into specifics. So the question becomes, just what is modesty? "As long as I'm covered I'm being modest. How tight my clothes are shouldn't matter." Or another popular excuse, "I'm not being immodest, I'm just dressing like everyone else. I don't want to stand out because I'm so different. Even Jesus dressed like all the other Jews."
Or what about flirting? "Is it okay to flirt if I don't go all the way? If I just bat my eyes or show a little skin, that still fornication/adultery?"
Jesus was very clear about boundaries. He wants us to stay away from "the edge", the precipice, that area where we're just shy of sinning, because He knows that's a dangerous place to be. You don't let your children walk on the edge of the highway, do you? Even if they aren't in the path of an oncoming car, they're close enough to fall at any moment. No loving parent would allow their child to take that kind of risk. Our Heavenly Father is an even more loving parent than we are.
Consider Jesus' teaching when it came to the meaning of adultery: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28). To Jesus, the actual act alone wasn't the only sin. Thinking about sin leads to it, so it's important to keep our minds clear of sin as well as the rest of our bodies (Philippians 4:8).
Rather than test our boundaries, we should run from sin. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts." (Romans 6:12). The closer we choose to play near fire, the more likely the chance we'll get burned. Similarly, the closer we choose to play near sin, the more likely the chance we'll fall into it, and we can't blame anyone but ourselves once we're in that position. "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27).
How do we combat this desire to live on the edge? By being drastic. If the thoughts come into your head, that's an indication it's time to run.
Say you're out with friends and the topic of having a couple of drinks comes up. If you feel the need to count and try to determine how many drinks are acceptable and how far you can go before you've gone too far, if your mind is so occupied with how close you can get to sin before you fall into it, walk away. It's better not to even start drinking so you don't have to decide when to stop. That may sound too drastic for some, but consider Jesus' words: "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30). I can't think of anything more drastic than removing body parts. Now, Jesus isn't saying you need to literally cut off a hand or pull out your eyes. What He is saying, is that whatever you might lose isn't worth more than your life. So what if your friends think you're dull because you won't have a drink with them? So what if you're considered a prude because you dress modestly and cover up more than others? So what if everyone else is flirting with the new co-worker except you? You don't miss out on anything by avoiding evil. Keeping our minds and bodies pure is a much better, safer, and healthier choice. And most importantly, it's what honors God.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
- Romans 12:1-2.
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