Wheat-56 points, Tares-0

What if you were forced to answer for your actions this very day? Just pretend with me, if you will. What would you do if an eclipse cast an eerie light around the world, and everyone who was living apart from Christ reflected red, while those who were covered by his grace reflected blue? How would I look? How would our nation look?

Today I was praying with a friend of mine. We were telling God how upset we were with the state of our culture, church, nation, etc...

I asked Him if He would rip out the tares, expose them for what they are, and make them choose. Of course, that's my need for instant gratification. The easy way out. I guess I'm sick of the wicked getting their way. Getting honored among themselves, and causing further destruction. I'm also bitter that I'm sort-of a product of all that junk. I don't mean to be judgmental. I know I'm not better than anyone else, nor do I deserve grace more.

But we as a nation are at risk. We've exchanged truth for lies, and turned our backs on our loving Father. We've spit in His face and declared our independance from purity. We've forsaken His love, and scoffed up our own vomit like a sick dog that can't remember why he got so sick in the first place. We've played the harlot, making idols of everything by worshipping a god that would allow us free access sin with no cost.

Again, I'm not perfect. I sin. I repent. I struggle. I'm just sick of the abundance of sin among Christians. I think it's time we all step up a couple of rungs on the purity ladder, and declare our freedom from sin. Try harder. Is it so hard? Jesus didn't die an agonizing death on the cross so we could have an all day pass to the theme park of lust, self-indulgence, and depravity, only to walk into the pearly gates and hop on a cloud with no conscience of our previous life. Enough with the oversimplified view of Christian salvation. I've heard all the sentiments about salvation, and I know that NOTHING can take me from His hands.

But the truth is glaringly obvious. If 80% of our nation were truly faithful lovers of Christ, there wouldn't be a demand for even half the sick twisted stuff we have today. Those who invent ways to defy God would be out of business.

My challenge to you is this... Ask yourself...

"Which do I spend more money on, loving others in Christ or substance to induce a good feeling in myself?"

"Which do I spend more energy on, pleasing God or pleasing my friends and family?"

"Which do I devote more thought to, meditating on scripture or making money?"

"What do I gaze upon more, my spouse or an illusion created to ensnare me for profit?"

"What do I get emotional about, seeing a young adult find the Lord or the outcome of a football game?"

Examine yourself, and when you see who you are today, decide who you will be tomorrow. Decide this daily.

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I wrote this earlier this year (July 2010?) and left it unpublished until today. I still feel the same way, but I admit this entry was fueled by some pretty legalistic zero-tolerance attitudes I was having at the time. (Mostly stemming from frustration with my own failures while drowning in the sea of depravity around me.) I am now reading Every Man's Battle, a book about going "all in" for Christ, and not settling for a "C" in purity. This book has helped me understand the battle that rages without and within, and is training me to fight.