The illustration of a frog being put into a pot of cold water and then left as the heat is turned on should be a reminder to us of what's happening to our own Christian lives. The frog is comfortable in the cold water and as it heats up adjusts to that temperature. When the frog is cooked to death it's too late to get out of the water. So are our lives as we are in the world but not of the world. We too adjust to what society brings our way and don't get out of the world to save our souls. Believers, however, have a different consequence of their lack of action. I've alluded to the Scripture in Psalm 1:1 before. I'll revisit it today. When we are first brought into the family of God by confession of our sins and forgiveness by God, our focus is on our new found life in Christ. For however long we daily relish our new life and all that God has blessed us with. We may even have the impulse to preach the Gospel here and there leading others to Jesus who saves their souls. We have separated ourselves from the "world" and are living for Christ. Then something happens. It doesn't matter what but rather why. In Psalm 1:1 there are 3 steps we take to step away from God and do what the world wants rather than what the love of God requires.
First we walk outside the world but know the world is there. We still have interest in the world and even adhere to some of the worlds thinking. For instance we fail to speak the Gospel where it might be "offensive" like at work or in social circles. We haven't walked away from Christ but we are on that path. Living in the world but not of the world is an important failsafe to keeping our eyes on Jesus. It's easy to look at the little things and begin to ignore them in order to fit in or stand up for our faith. Step two is we stop and listen and observe those who aren't living their lives for Christ. The danger is we become drawn to some of what they have that we deem "borderline" between Christianity and living in the world. We tell ourselves that it's harmless and not "really important" followed up with "it's okay for them." No, no, and no. We haven't entered into sin with those we are around but we have entered into their midst and not proclaimed Jesus. Had we done this we would have kept the barrier up between that which corrupts the soul and that which saves the soul. The third step is we enter into the sin of others. We tell ourselves the lie that it's okay if we keep our faith. Situations where we choose to date and marry unbelieving spouses with the intention of seeing them come to Christ are only one way we enter in to that area where the world justifies our actions and thinking. Listening to coarse talk and vulgar jokes without saying a word or even laughing with others only takes us further into the pit.
"Thinking themselves to be wise they prove they are fools." That's what we do. I'm not anymore immune than you are. We can either take a stand for Christ or we can fall for anything. I know. I've done that many times. The God who loves me and leaves the 99 to find the one (me) seeks to get me back on the narrow path designed to bless and save me. So what do I do? I'm not one to mince words. What we do is choose life over death. We choose our own consequences. A wise and prudent person pursues positive consequences over negative consequences. We have the choice even as God's people. The Lord has given us free will and the ability to discern that which He seeks. God will not violate our free will. The choice is always ours. Do we live the Gospel or do we live our lives in the world where no one can see Jesus in us? Remember it's always your choice.
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