Ezekiel 23

Ezekiel 23 paints a word picture for us of sin.  He uses one of the enemy’s great tools – sex – as the example.  The lesson here is pretty frightening, but really gives us insight into the evil we face.  Satan will come after us in the areas we are weak.  He knows us and will attack us when we are tired and lonely and away from home.  He will come after us incessantly.  Check out what scripture says: “She never slowed down”.  The “she” here is evil.  Nancy travels with me to most every event I attend.  Why?  It isn’t because she loves hanging around with geeks all day and night.  Quite honestly, here desire is to be home and away from crowds and people.   But she also loves me, and I love her, and we both know that being alone on the road for long periods under stress and a tough schedule opens the door for the enemy.  So I have asked her to be with me so that temptation is controlled.  She also is such a blessing in terms of encouragement and support, and during this season of our life, is making huge impact on people through her quiet and gentle spirit.  Our travels are truly a labor of love by both of us to serve others.  But the root of us trying to be together is really based on my knowledge of what we are against – and the understanding he has one desire for my life and my marriage – to destroy it.  Sin has some ugly results – not just in the immediate circumstances – which can be a problem in themselves, but listen to some of what God says about responding to one who continues to live in sin: “I turned my back on her….. I’m at the point of abandoning you…. Because you’ve forgotten all about me, pushing me into the background, you now must pay for what you’ve done”.  Folks, we are not talking about something that just hurts for a while when we chose to do it any way but God’s way.  We are talking about an eternity that leaves us separated from our Creator and His plan for our life.  Sin will cost us everything if we don’t deal with it.  Sin will be paid for by someone.  Fortunately God loved us enough to send His Son to pay that price, but even though that grace is free, it only works in my life if I make the choice to receive that payment for MY sin.  Have you dealt with sin?  What is your disaster recovery plan for your life?  Jesus is the way to deal with the burden and penalty of sin.  We then need to focus on walking with the Father and living a life pleasing to Him.  God bless us as we pursue Him with all our heart.