A Convenient Amnesia

It’s easy and enticing to look at the world and be envious. Kingdom people may be tempted to gaze into the eyes of self-gratification and indulgence and say, “Just one moment of pleasure that will satisfy my flesh, then I’ll turn back and serve God.” Such a thought is nothing short of treason before our King. It is a despicable abuse of God’s grace. Paul says in Romans 6:1-2, [1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Grace as an excuse to wander from God is an anti-Gospel.

Instead of living in the light of the resurrected Christ, we attempt to resurrect our old selves for a moment of fleshly pleasure. It’s in these moments that God is no longer real to us. It’s a convenient amnesia for our convenience-driven selves. But our Father isn’t a 7-Eleven.

God is worthy of our entire selves and will not think lightly of our pride displayed through sinful desires. He will meet it with opposition and conviction. Sin’s end is death. Those who wallow and relish in it will reap it’s fruit.

Proverbs 23:17 states, “Let your heart not envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.” Here is a continuing, enduring reverence for our King and His Kingdom. Our fear of the Lord guides our desires and squashes sin in it’s tracks. We exalt Him as our everything, leaving all else in the shadow of His majesty and magnificence.

Let us continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Begin your pursuit of Him when your eyes awake in the morning until they drift away into sleep at night. When we’ve made it another God-given day let us give thanks to the One who graciously blessed us with it. And let us not envy those who have chosen not to believe. Instead, may we meet them each day with the love and grace shown to us, so that they too may be satisfied.