“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but I will not be mastered by anything. -1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)
There’s an old joke that says that denial (the Nile) ain’t just a river in Egypt.
Once God shakes things up in your life and shows you the truth, and shows you what needs to be done, what will you do?
It’s possible to live apart from God and not know it. I should know. I did it for 40 years. And once He unveiled my eyes, I could see how others could do the same…even those professing to be believers.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. -2 Timothy 3:12-13 (NIV)
Coming to Christ after living apart from God is like realizing you’ve been sleepwalking through life…sleepwalking through a bad dream, with your eyes open. But now, God has snapped you out of it, and starts showing you and guiding you in how to live, and how to discern good from evil.
It’s the beginning of a lifelong walk of recovery and healing. And when you look around, you can see how others are still sleepwalking. Though they may say they are believers, you can see now that they walk no differently than how you did before you followed Christ. You can see it in the fruit.
Though you can’t magically fix others around you, no matter how much you want to, you can let Jesus work his healing in you, it will change you. It will transform your mind and heart, and straighten your walk. And if it’s in His will, then your walk could influence those around you to bring them to Him.
God has a way of casting His light to expose sin. And we can face it, confess it, repent, and be forgiven for it. And with each one, we walk straighter, truer, and higher…ever closer to Him.
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