Evil, I believe, is a choice. We embrace or reject it. It comes at us in insidious guises, and we make decisions that push it back or let it edge closer. It never tires and never sleeps; it's there every day - crouching on our doorsteps, hoping for a cozy place to shack up.
This is from a book I read recently called "The Best of Evil" by Eric Wilson.
Similar thoughts to the quote I posted in my recent review of the Children's Life Journal
The truth is, no marriage instantly disintegrates, and no one suddenly falls away from Christ. For that matter, no one dies from an eating disorder after missing a day or two of meals.
It could better be described as a slow decline—gradual spiritual starvation, barely even discernible to the outside observer. The malnourishment of God's sons and daughters happens over time, as they eat less and less. Then, in their weakness, they do something that shocks everyone, finally revealing what was really going on in their spiritual lives.
And the song by Casting Crowns - Slow Fade
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
So often it's all the little things that we let add up to one big bad decision that alters the course of our life, and without fail, the lives of those we say we love.
The small bad decisions we make.
The nondecisions we don't make.
Choosing to remain silent instead of standing up for what's right because we didn't want to stick out from the crowd.
Laughing along.
Spending time on what's good instead of on what's better.
Focusing on wants instead of needs.
Not turning off the TV when we should.
Focusing on outward beauty instead of inward purity, loveliness and strength of character.
Being reactive instead of proactive in regards to our faith and our lives and perhaps most importantly, in teaching our children.
Making excuses for our bad habits.
Following the crowd. Not thinking for ourselves.
Allowing the media to control our mindset and worldview and our time.
Allowing anger to turn into resentment and bitterness.
Ignoring our conscience until it falls silent.
Letting the Bible gather dust on the bookshelf because we're too busy to take time for Someone who we've claimed is priority #1.
Every day little decisions that we think are inconsequential. They're not.
I've seen too many families crumble in this slow fade and it breaks my heart.
I don't know about you - but I want to resist the evil crouching at my doorstep!
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
I don't want a slow fade ending in destruction.
I don't want to suffer a slow spiritual decline.
So I will commit to being in the Word because
daily fresh bread can change all of that. Regularly dining on fresh bread makes for a stalwart, strong, developed army—the only kind of force that will always make a difference in this world.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
We need to. For us. And for our children.
Generational sin is a reality. But nothing is impossible with God. With His help, old patterns CAN be broken. But what's even more amazing - faithfulness is rewarded a thousand-fold!
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9
And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul . Deuteronomy 10:12
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
6 comments:
Yes. Amen. Exactly.
(I totally agree!)
Yep. Still agree.
;)
Great references, Tammy.
Loved this post!
Great post Tammy!
Great post! I absolutely love that song and the warning message it proclaims. The first time I heard it, I thought it was about losing one's virginity and that stepping closer and closer does not happen all at one time, but rather a slow descent into a bad choice. Then I heard the song in the movie Fireproof and thought about it as the slow decline of marriages. I never thought about it as a slow decline of Christianity and a watering down of it.
Those all apply don't they?
I guess one (losing your virginity, or marriage "gone bad") often coincides, or perhaps follows, the other - the decline of our faith - or at least, how seriously and faithfully we're living it out.
Post a Comment