Trapped

Verse of the day: Judges 2:21-22, “I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.”

Once again, we see the result of Israel’s choice to satisfy their own passions and corrupt pleasures. God chose their own sinful indulgences as the rod for their discipline. The very people they spared for their own profit and pleasure became the source of their griefs and troubles. Isaiah 66:4 tells us, “So will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.” As God’s children, we tread dangerous waters when we choose to indulge in sinful behavior, in order to fulfill our fleshly lusts, rather than resist temptation and do what is right. The choices we make to sin today, and the things we choose to indulge in, may very well become the rod God uses to discipline us. God had warned Israel, long before their rebellion, that this would be their consequence, if they chose the practices of the pagan people who inhabited the land. Deuteronomy 7:4 says, “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.” This warning is still in effect for us today in James 1:12-15, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Sin will never be without its consequences. However, God in His goodness will use our sinfulness to test us. I say His goodness because He uses these moments of discipline to show us what is truly in our hearts, and gives us an opportunity to turn back to Him. He allows heavy consequences and suffering in order to turn our eyes, and life, back to Him. Sadly, this could all be avoided, in many instances, if we would not put ourselves in positions to be tempted in the first place. Romans 16:19-20 clearly says, “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” We must strive to be people who have a reputation for being obedient to God, and avoiding even the opportunities for temptation. If we know we are vulnerable to sexual sin, stay away from pornographic sites, and from involving oneself in flirtatious situations with the opposite sex. If we are vulnerable to addictions, stay away from fellowship with people who indulge in drugs and alcohol. We fool ourselves if we think we can dabble in sinful behavior (and those who do) and not fall to temptation. We may succeed today, and even tomorrow, but be “spiritually off” next week and give in to temptation. Our enemy lulls us to sleep by allowing us to have a victory or two, only to lead us down a path of entrapment. Romans 6 tells us that we are dead to sin and alive to God. We must use our bodies as instrument for God’s purposes. As Christians, we have been saved from a life of sinful living. If we then become careless, dabbling in that which is sinful, we will certainly trap ourselves all over again. 2 Peter 2:20-22 clearly warns us, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” The Israelites trapped themselves by their own doings. Let us be careful not to find ourselves trapped by our own lack of wisdom, and positioning ourselves to fall to temptation. God may choose to use our very own decisions to dabble in sinful behavior to be the rod of discipline He uses to bring us back to Him. I guarantee that it will be a painful process to endure.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).