Staying In Bounds.

 I go walking every night after work at a fitness center here in town. They have a walking/running track on the upper floor. It is three lanes wide. Outside lane is for running. Middle lane for jogging and inside lane walking. While walking on the track the other night, it was pretty crowded. I noticed that when some people came to the curve on the track, they struggled to stay in their lane. As not to interrupt any other walkers/runners next to them. I watched them as they placed one foot over the line into the next lane and then pull it back quickly because they knew that they were out of their lane. It reminded me of a football receiver trying to get his two feet down to stay in bounds to be credited with a catch. It reminded me of an '80's rock star's album and song "Dancing On The Edge" by Lita Ford. To be honest, it made me think of a lot of things. But mostly it made me think about us Christians.

How close do we dance, tiptoe, whatever you want to call it, to the line of sin? How close can we get without actually sinning? That is a dangerous game to play. You do something that you know in your heart that is wrong, but it can't hurt. Can it? If I don't actually cross the line, then I'll be okay.

Romans 13:14 New Living Translation

14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

You get invited out to an after work dinner/party. A married co-worker from the opposite sex asks you for a ride. You don't see any issue with it, but the other person may have different intentions. One glance or gesture. An innocent touch of a hand, next thing you know, your going down a slippery slope. One that is hard to climb back up from.

You know its wrong, but you can't get rid of that feeling. You should be fleeing, not indulging. You know that cheating or even entertaining the idea of cheating is wrong, but here you are.

James 4:17 New Living Translation

17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

If you don't put yourself in that situation, you could have avoided the whole thing. My wife and I have a rule that we follow. We are not allowed to be alone with the opposite sex without consent from one another. We trust each other and that we will make wise choices. 

Your boss or co-worker asks you to do something unethical or wrong. You think how close to the edge can I get without actually getting in trouble. If something happens, you can blame someone else. After all, it was their idea. Right? No! You still had a hand in it. You knew it was wrong, but yet you still did it.

1 John 5:18 The Voice

18 We all know that everyone fathered by God will not make sin a way of life because God protects His children from the evil one, and the evil one can’t touch them.

A pastor friend of mine used to say "A step away from sin, is a step closer to God". Who wouldn't want to be closer to God than to sin?

So I encourage you tonight. To not be like the football receiver trying to keep his feet inbounds. Be the tight end who catches the ball in the middle of the field, far away from going out of bounds.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.