DEVOTION
How
Did I Get Here?
By Aaron Bull
Guest Writer
CBN.com
- Let me pose a question maybe a few. If I told you that
you were going to gain 10 pounds tomorrow when you woke up, would
you wake up? What if I asked you to become a drug dealer? What if
I said you were going to get a divorce? How about I ask you to lie
to your family? Would you do it? Would you do any of the last few
questions I asked? I would imagine that everyone's answer would be
a resounding no. However, we do it everyday. Let me elaborate.
I recently met with our church teen group. We had a great meeting.
The Holy Spirit was really moving -- in the teens and the adults.
After our share time I asked the teens to get into small groups,
be transparent with each other, and pray for each other's needs.
The prayer time went great. The adults got together as well and
prayed for some of the teen's needs.
After we were done praying I walked around
to see how everyone was doing. It was great. The teens were really
opening
up to each
other. I was very moved by what the Holy Spirit was doing, not
only in me, but also in the teens. Basically, I wanted to see
if I could help in any way. I stopped
at one group and talked with a guy who shared about the lows we
can get to. I told him how much
I
appreciated
what he
had
shared
and noted that we always ask ourselves how we get to those low
points in our lives.
So I posed a question. I asked them
if they would take cocaine tomorrow if someone asked them to. Of
course they all said no. I agreed. Then I gave them
a scenario to show them how they could get to that point, and told
them how each step was larger than the last. Here's what I shared
with them.
This, of course if from a teen's point of view, but it DOES NOT
apply only to teens. Give me just a few moments to make my point.
Let's say I'm into skateboarding, but have never done it before.
I make friends with a guy who knows how to skate. He shows me some
tricks and we become good friends.
One day he asks me if I want to take a drag from his cigarette.
I figure he's my friend, why would he point me in the wrong
direction? A little while later, I'm hooked. Then one day he offers
me some
pot. There's no harm in doing it. I mean, he's my friend.
We've had some great times together. So I agree to do it. Then
before
I know it, guess what? I'm doing cocaine, have been kicked out
of
school, have lost my friends, can't get along with anyone, including
my parents, etc I think that may be that slippery slope people
talk about. I've just stepped on it and over it.
Now, back to all of my audience. The scenario I presented doesn't
only happen with teens and drugs. Have you gained some weight lately
and don't fully understand where it came from? Have you lied to
your family or in your business life? Have you told God no, even
in a soft/nice/ignorant way by not doing what He's asked you to
do?
We all have. No one's free of that sin.
Am I suggesting that it's always going to snowball like that? Of
course not. However, it's the little things that seem benign that
catch us asking ourselves, hopefully, somewhere down the line, "How
did that happen? How did I get here?"
What's my point in all of this? The obvious, but sometimes elusive
fact that we have to be careful! All it takes is one more thing.
It always starts as something small. Something that's easy to hide
if need be and before we know it, it's become something so huge
that we don't know what to do. Many times it escalates into something
so huge that it becomes a repeated cycle, a.k.a. a catch-22.
Who's responsible? We are, but Satan's got a starring role as well.
He's going to do everything in his power to destroy us either by
failure, lies, deceit, destruction, the little things, etc. Is he
not the author of destruction? He most certainly is. So watch out.
Will that little harmless thing you're considering be possibly the
snowball in hell everyone talks about? I'm pretty certain it is.
So before that next step happens, stop and think about it. Will
this become something bigger than what it looks like right now?
So think about your actions before you get to the point when you
ask, "How did I get here?"
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because
when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that
God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).
Contact
Aaron Bull with your comments
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