Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, God might strike me down for saying this, but, I think the Yankees might lose,” and then everyone listening steps back, as if there’s a chance God might actually send a lightning bolt? The old cliché always strikes me as silly and a bit irreverent.
God will not strike you down for insulting the New York Yankees.
But think about this: Are you surrounded by people who make bad choices and dishonor God? Do your peers, friends, or coworkers break God’s law? Step back.
No, seriously. STEP BACK. People who continually sin against God are storing up judgment for themselves and will be punished. It will come. They will reap what they sow—but the harvest is delayed. They may appear to be getting away with it. But the punishment will come later.
So step back. You do not want to be on their ship when it sinks. Or in their car when it crashes. Or in business with them when the company goes bankrupt. STEP BACK.
God warns the Jews to leave Babylon before His punishment falls on the evil nation:
“Leave Babylon; save your lives, each one of you! Don’t perish because of her guilt!…. Come out from among her, My people! Save your lives, each of you, from the Lord’s burning anger.” Jeremiah 51:6,45.
God WILL judge the sinner for His sins. Step back. If you are deeply entangled with the serious sinner (even if he is born again), God’s judgment may take you down too.
For example, two men I know were successful business partners. The two of them designed and built one of Houston’s largest master-planned communities. One day Bob told Joe that Bob was getting divorced. He had been cheating on his wife for years. Joe shocked Bob by immediately ending their partnership. Bob asked why, and Joe said, “If you’d cheat on her, you’d cheat on me.”
Joe showed wisdom. Do NOT be too deeply entangled with sin or sinners. Love them. Help them. Encourage them. Pray for them. Share your life and faith with them. But don’t put your future in their hands. Don’t let their sin destroy your dreams, business, achievements, or plans. STEP BACK.
Pray for God’s wisdom and God’s discernment in all your relationships.
ΑΩ
*Painting by Graig Kreindler, the Painter of the National Pastime, http://www.graigkreindler.com
Household Words: 