7/08/2013

Just the Before

It wasn't his main point, only a brief comment before beginning his sermon.

Yesterday, the Pastor said, "The Devil only shows you the before, not the after." His example was seeing a commercial or advertisement of a couple enjoying a drink and how appealing it looks. That's the before. The after is many years down the road and a person hospitalized and dying of cirrhosis of the liver.

Whether someone drinks or not isn't the point and I hope no one gets caught up in the alcohol versus not-alcohol debate. The point is how appealing the Devil can make sin appear. And we only see the fun parts, the enjoyable parts, the exciting parts of a sinful choice. We don't see the repercussions, the hurt, the danger, the sorrow those innocent-seeming sinful choices can lead to.

Some of my family members are deeply hurt and wounded by sinful choices a friend has made. Although this person may think his choices are only affecting him, they're not. They are impacting his family, his friends, his friends' families (as we try to help our kids deal with their hurt and anger), and who knows who else?

Somewhere down the road (we hope), he will realize the destructiveness of his behavior and make a U-turn. However, damage has already been done and some things won't be able to be altered or repaired.

The scripture that runs over and over in my head is:

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Image: manostphoto/freedigitalphotos.net

10 comments:

  1. Boy this one hit home. My ex husband passed away last Sept at the age of 52 from drinking. He was diagnosed w/ Hepititus C in 1999 but refused to quit drinking. He only escalated as the years went by, esp. after he was laid off right b/f the economy crashed in 2008. By the time I gave up and left in 2011, he was already so far gone that the toxins were affecting his brain. He thought he knew better than everyone - his doctors, me, therapist, etc.

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    1. What a hard road you've walked Jojo. What a waste of the gift of life. I'm glad the Lord has brought beauty out of ashes for you as you move toward building a new life.

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  2. Prayers are like journey's released - and I've been there when someone who was mine hurt us all - but we prayed - and that prayer was released, went out - and then one day this spring - that prayer came home, answered - eyes were opened, tears fell and a heart repented. It's all about faith and hope in His promises!

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    1. It IS all about faith and hope in His promises!

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  3. You know people do not understand the ripple effect and how long it goes out! sandie

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    1. I like the picture of a ripple effect. That's exactly what it is like.

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  4. Yes, yes, my friend. Our choices impact those around us near ... and then far. Like a stone dropped in a lake, the ripples go on and on ...

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    1. We are so short-sighted that we forget how even our smallest actions can affect other people.

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  5. Wow, great words. And so true. The trouble w/ sin is that it starts out fun. That's the "before." Then the consequences come, and we realize (hopefully) we've been duped. That's the "after." Satan is the ultimate deceiver.

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    1. Satan really is the father of lies. The Before is always a giant lie.

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