Don’t copy the
behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think. Romans 12.2a (NLT)
I
cannot, for the life of me, remember where I read it, or who wrote it (memory
suggests maybe C.S. Lewis or William Barclay), but the two-liner is:
Every day,
and with every choice you make, you are becoming a little bit more of a
heavenly being, or a little bit more of a hellish being.
Throughout
my life, and especially in my role as a pastor, I have heard the same droning
rationalization for selfish behavior: It’s
my life; if I want to do it’s not hurting anyone else.
Fail.
Let
me say that again, slowly and clearly….FAIL!
There
is a corollary truth, an upshot with global implications that grows from
individuals moving towards heaven or hell with their behavior:
With each
individual choice moving you towards heavenly or hellish ways, the whole world
conforms that much more to an Eden or Inferno…starting with your children.
The
children are always affected. When a
person who is supposed to be an adult, role-model, inspirer, leader, wholesome,
always true, dependable…(you get the idea)…when the adult indulges in behavior
that is hellish our world changes.
Granted, it may only be a drop-in-the-ocean
kind of change – but, without question, change occurs.
We
move towards hell by millimeters, not miles.
But
the change doesn’t always have to be towards hell; behavior that is
transformed by God’s Spirit is heaven-like and leaves the world that much
better.
For You Today
In
what direction will you move all of us on this planet today?
Heavenly
or Hellish – we have a choice.
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