Do Our Actions Say That It's More Fun to Walk on the Dark Side?

This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

I was reading a book lately about religion that said that one of the reasons some don't become Christians is that they don't want to give things up to abide by Christian rules and ethics. Does that mean that it's more fun to walk on the dark side?

Sure it could be fun, at least as far as adrenaline goes, to drive fast cars faster than the speed limits allow. Sure it could be fun to party hardy, going far beyond acceptable amounts of any substance. Sure it could be fun to stay out all night and call in sick at work the next day. You can talk on your smart phone and put on a good face to your employer who may be none the wiser. The thing is, the only direct line to Christ is through prayer and He sees all and knows all! Is it really worth chancing your salvation for the temporary fun of walking on the dark side?

Does My Busy-ness Say That I Don't Have Time for Christ in My Life?

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18

I like the way this Bible passage keeps me focused on what really matters! It's so easy for me to get busy doing this, that and the next thing. I think Satan sometimes works to get a stronghold in our lives when we are too busy to pay attention to his negative influence on us.

I have mental lists of all I'm supposed to do, but if I don't make reading my Bible a priority or having some quiet time praying to God, my days seem even more hectic and disconnected. I have found that when I do make Christ a priority in my life, the hectic things in life that keep me so very busy, lose their pull on me. I think when I'm more Christ centered, I'm a better role model to those around me. I want to stay focused on growing in grace!

Does Our Putting Things Off Until Tomorrow Say that We Don't Care About Our Salvation?

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  2 Peter 3:9-10

In a previous post, I was talking about trying to get ahead like the Jones's. This passage reminds me that goals of that nature are all for naught, because when Jesus comes as a thief in the night, all those worldly things are going to be worthless.

It's easy to put things like this off until another time. Another time, I will try to be more Christ centered, maybe after I have my new sporty car. That's when things will be more settled down enough for me to pay more attention to being the Christian that my Savior wants me to be. Fortunately for us, Christ is very forgiving, but He warns us in the Bible through verses like this, we never know when He's coming. Are we going to be ready? Will our families be ready or is everyone too busy trying to get the latest smart phone?

Do We Let the Love of Money Skew Our Christian Moral Values?

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. but thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:10-12

This is an especially important passage, especially around tax time. Do we get caught up in trying to keep up with the Jones's that we let our Christian ethics and moral values slip? Does it become easy for us to skew some of the information on our taxes, so it works to our advantage? Everyone else does it, right, but is it? Do we let these worldly things drain us a cent at a time? Sometimes it seems that all those we encounter are better off, have a better job, faster car, fancier clothes, bigger house, etc. Is the desire to attain all of these things helping or hurting your faith? Additionally, if we are trying to attain these things, what are we telling our younger generation? Are they to feel inadequate if they don't have all the same status things in their life? Again, this is something to be prayerful about...not just for you, but for me, too!