Control yourself (Part 5 / conclusion)

We should not kid ourselves, God created us to love, but we cannot truly love God if we are in love with the world.

1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  

When we love Him as we ought to, there will be little room within our hearts for this world or what it has to offer. But, when our love for Him wanes, then something else will fill its place. When you and I choose a path through life that leads us gradually away from the Lord and steadily toward the world, we should not be surprised when we wake up one day and find ourselves miles away from the Lord, and a long way from where we thought we'd end up.

Think for a moment about the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-24. When he left the father’s house, he was just looking for a good time. He just wanted to live it up for a few days. But, before too many days had passed, he found himself in a place he could never have imagined. He learned the lesson that we all need to remember, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; keep you longer than you want to stay; and cost you more than you want to pay.”

When you and I choose to walk in the “broad way ” of sin and not in the “narrow way” of righteousness, we should not be surprised when our path leads us far away from the Lord, chills our heart and moves us deep into sin!

When we feed the flesh what it wants, we will find that its appetite continues to grow beyond our control. It will demand more than we can ever give it! Be careful what you allow into your life. It might be your pleasure today, but it may become your master tomorrow! Sunday's sermon notes spoke of being careful about who and what you yoke yourself to.

Conclusion: Demas was a man who could not govern or control himself. As a result, he found himself far away from the Lord in a backslidden condition. Did Demas ever make things right with the Lord? We are not told, so we do not know for certain. But, if he did, then he had to make a total change in his life and mind. He would have had to turn away from the world and renew his love relationship with God. He would have had to repent, meaning to turn completely away from the world.

Where did you find yourself today? Has this week's message resonated with your heart? Are the cold tendrils of sin trying to wrap themselves around your heart? If you can see yourself beginning to go down the slippery slope toward sin, it is never too late to turn back to the Lord. He will receive you and forgive you.

Perhaps, as you have been reading this week, you have realized that you are not even saved today. If that is the case, He will forgive you and receive you into His family, if you will come to Him. Perhaps you have someone in your life and you love them, but you can see them beginning to take the wrong path in life. I challenge you to go before the Lord and lift their name up to God in prayer.

Amen.