Making The Right Choices

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:12-14

Since the turn of the 20th century, Technology has been growing like Kudzu. For our friends in the northern and western states I extracted this from the www.nature.org website. [Known as "mile-a-minute" and "the vine that ate the South," this creeping, climbing perennial vine terrorizes native plants all over the southeastern United States and is making its way into the Midwest, Northeast, and even Oregon. Kudzu is native to Japan and southeast China.  From the 1930s through the 1950s, the Soil Conservation Service promoted it as a great tool for soil erosion control and was planted in abundance throughout the south. Little did we know that kudzu is quite a killer, overtaking and growing over anything in its path. Kudzu grows out of control quickly.) Do you see the analogy clearer? What was intended to be a help, controlled by people, has taken on a life of its own. 

Technology, which is a good thing, has interwoven into the very fabric of our souls. Cell phones come to mind. With it, the opportunities to be tempted with what technology brings to the "front door" of our hearts are legion. Our senses - our weaknesses, are bombarded with opportunities to give in - to yield because we can. The temptations can be just too hard to resist. 

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17

Lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the three points in which Satan tempted Jesus in the desert. The problem is the question of "should we" not "can we" begins to grow quieter in our hearts as we yield to what is so easy to reach and embrace. Take material accumulation as an example. Instant gratification allows us to accumulate that which will be of no interest to us in a week or two or less. So we fill our attics - crowd out our cars from the garage - a room built specifically for our cars that has been banished to the driveway to bake in the sun and freeze in the cold wind. And when the garage is full to the brim, we rent storage space - another type of garage to store the overflow. Storing things that will probably never see the light of day until someone in our will sifts through it looking for something of value - in their eyes. And they will likely find very little - perhaps a 300 baud modem (think You've Got Mail) still in the original package.  

We hang on to things like Gollum clutching the ring - his precious. And like Gollum it is really the having and not the ring that proves to be important to us. 

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else,  Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:18-27

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone