Being the preacher’s wife, I’m sure you have heard about “how much you miss out on.” I have heard one too many times about what all I miss in life because of my “religion.” Sadly, it has often times come from family. They have told me that I live way too strict and that I don’t enjoy the finer things of life. They say that I miss out on a lot of good times because I won’t join them for a birthday party or bachelorette party, because I know what the choice beverage will be.
Well, I will have to say that I agree with them. I have missed out.
I’ve missed out on a life filled with sin. I’ve missed out on chasing my husband around begging him to come home or lying in bed wondering where he was or who he was with. I have missed out on worrying about who the father of my child may be. I have missed out on the extreme headaches and nausea that follows the night of flooding my body with alcohol. I have missed out on the broken home that is a result of loose living. I have missed out on my children being ripped away from my home because of a drug addiction that I can’t control. Wow, they are right, I’ve really missed out.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not belittling those who have suffered some of these side effects of these sins. I am completely aware that it is only the grace of God that has kept me sheltered from these things. I am also aware that everything could completely change tomorrow. But for now I will praise God for the precious years behind me that have been sheltered by His grace.
The world we live in continues to promote sin as though it is liberating and glorious. We are bombarded with magazines, television shows, movies, and songs that attempt to promote sin as the source of real happiness. The true products of sin are pain, further separation from the things that bring us true joy, and ultimately death. The world’s biggest excuse for not coming to church is “I do what I want to do,” or “I’m my own person,” because they don’t want to be a slave to the church or to Christ. The Bible tells us differently. We all have a master and it is either Christ or Satan. So, the world is full of slaves to sin. People are enslaved to sexual immorality, alcohol, drugs, the internet, etc., to such an extent that they sometimes cannot go more than a few hours without being overwhelmed by self-destructive urges.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul described the power sin has to enslave us. What the unbeliever must realize is that accepting Christ does not lead to a life of “do nots.” Simply put, sin life is negative, while life under the power of Christ is positive. God wants to free us and heal us from the control that our earthly bodies have over us. Paul says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6.6) By accepting the grace of Jesus, we begin the attack on our old sin lives. Through Jesus alone we break our earthly bondage to sin and the power it has over our actions. Without the influence of our flesh we can be led by the Holy Spirit and for the first time, see a clear picture of what we should and should not do to have abundant life (John 10:10).
The Christ follower is not missing out on the things of the world, but is instead freed to pursue the joy and fulfillment we were designed to enjoy. The joy of a successful marriage far outweighs spending nights in smoky bars, talking over bad music. Through the truth of Jesus, we see that a life without alcohol far outweighs having countless hours and financial resources consumed in alcohol abuse. The most sinister aspect of sin is its ability to convince us that we are happy, while it clutches us and drags us down. As Christ followers, we must be aware that the non-believer may not know they are enslaved or even want to be freed (John 8:34). Still, we must bring them to Jesus, so the Holy Spirit can open their eyes to the destructive power of sin and they can know the joy of His eternal love.
Be thankful for the things that you have missed and pray for someone who has been less fortunate.
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