January 5 | Never Going Back

Series | The God Kind of Life

Scripture | 1 Peter 4:3, "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired with your sin?  If not, sin may still have a grip on your heart.  When I first got saved I said to myself, “Never, never, never will I do those things again- I’m never going back!”  However, after one time of my friend begging me so much and saying, “You don’t have to get drunk or smoke weed with us, just come by and hang out.”  I gave in and went to the party as a baby Christian. 

Once I got there everybody ignored me and teased me for being the “party pooper.”  Then after a couple hours they became wasted and started stumbling all over the place, not making any sense, and they were being straight up rude.  I’ll never forget what I felt God say in my heart that day.  He asked me, “Have you had enough yet?”  I then jumped to my feet, left, and never looked backed.

It’s been over 17 years since I’ve gone to a party like that.  Why?  Because I made up in my mind that all the time of partying and doing sinful things was “enough” for me.  I didn’t need to experience any more of it- I had my fill of sin.  Now all I wanted was the pure bliss of heaven.

My friends continued to call me and tried to get me to go out with them again but this time I kept saying no.  Sure it was hard at first, but the peace in my soul was worth guarding, and it got easier over time.  Eventually, they stopped calling and asking me altogether.  Today, they still call from time to time, but it’s much different now.  They call to ask for prayer and advice on how to leave their old life behind.      

Reflection | Have you had enough of your sin yet?

Action | (1) Examine your heart to see if there are any sins you like to keep doing.  (2) Then ask God to give you a holy hatred from your “favorite sins” and to see them the way He does. (3) Lastly, every time you think about the “good ole’ sinful days,” remember that it was those days that put Jesus on the cross and dammed your soul to eternal hell.  Thus, live in view of God's love and mercy.  

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, & Proverbs 1:24-28. Click here to read online.