I recently saw an advertisement for a new show on television, “Extreme Makeover, Weight Loss Edition.” Many of these shows are very popular in our culture because people love watching other people take extreme measures to succeed. We like watching someone beat the odds through hard work, discipline and sacrifice because it gives us hope and inspiration for our own lives.
In order for each person to embrace the new challenge, the pain of staying the same has to become greater than the pain of change. This is why God allows us to experience the weight of our sin. We must come to a place where we recognize that the pain of staying in the same old habits and sins is far worse than the pain of changing.
Matthew 5:29-30 tells us about taking extreme measures when necessary:
29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
I have the privilege of praying for people at the alter at church on Sundays. That role comes with both rejoicing and disappointment. I get to rejoice with people as they give their lives to Jesus, rededicate their lives or confess sins. The disappointment comes when someone confesses their sin, but refuses to be proactive in taking measures to avoid the same sin again. They want someone to pray for them at the alter to have a ‘quick fix’ or an instant miracle but they are unwilling to create boundaries. They leave the door open for the enemy to come in and tempt them again and find themselves in the same spot.
The truth is, this life is a fleeting moment compared to eternity. It’s a test. Although at times it feels long, there will be a day when we will look back at our time on earth as merely a blink of an eye. That is why the scripture in Matthew 5 is so graphic in regards to the extreme measures one should take to get rid of sin. God knows that our hearts will one day wish that we would have taken more extreme measures to change.
Is God telling you to take extreme measures in any area?
1 comments:
You know what gets me? Is that while they are doing these shows, they are showing food in the background. Like change but here's a little temptation for you...
I love your blog on this!! So dead on.
<3 you!
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