7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
What a politically incorrect statement this is! Actions have consequences. What a novel idea. In our society which concentrates on the moment, the idea that what we do now affects our future seems almost crazy. When the moment is all that is in the mind’s eye, STDs run rampant, marriages are temporary legal agreements at best, unborn children are ’tissue’ about which we can make a ‘choice’, money is ours to spend any way we want, the needs of others are not our concern, and truth is what I make it. When there are not consequences to my actions, eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow I die. But our actions do have consequences that carry on into tomorrow. Ask the tens of millions who live with the consequences of boundary-free sexual escapades. Ask the children born and raised in a household where commitment is an unknown concept. And the really sad thing is that people claiming to be Christians live the values of non-Christians. Recent polls show that there is no difference between the lifestyles of Christians and non-Christians when it comes to marital fidelity. Shame on us! We have been deceived and we are mocking God. So the solution is to evaluate each decision with a future perspective. We can ask the question, what will grow out of this decision in five years, ten years, twenty years? If the answer is godliness, then it is a good decision. If unrighteousness, rebellion, chaos, then it is a bad decision. And remember, our decisions do not simply effect us, they have repercussions for those around us. Does our decision in the moment increase the opportunities for others to see the love of Jesus and the greatness of God? Yes, this is a lot of work to think carefully and examine each decision. This is mindful living, being actively engage in the process of life instead of floating along on the currents of culture. We are called to swim against the ungodly stream that permeates the moment. The current we catch is one that has flowed since before time began. It is a much larger current that makes the momentary whims of culture seem like spoon swirls in a coffee cup.
The Arnold Journey 