Shhhhhh...here’s a secret you don’t know about me. Let’s keep it between us. When I was in my late teen years and college days, I developed a reputation. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t shake it. I was labeled quiet, shy, serious, the girl who didn’t get in trouble. Essentially—-booor-ing. A “goody-two-shoes”. Conservative. The girl who didn’t get asked to break the rules because everyone knew she wouldn’t. And to be honest there were some days when I just got really sick of it. That’s when my inner rebel would pop out and lead me to say something shocking just to see the looks of surprise on people’s faces. It was so easy. All I had to do was work a mild expletive Into a conversation and everyone would be shocked. Their faces never disappointed and their laughter was always welcome. For a moment I would be “cool” (does anyone still say that?) rather than just boring old me. Only here’s the problem. Now here we are 20 years later and I’m still fighting a battle to watch what I say and keep the wrong words from slipping out. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not walking around swearing like a sailor—I’m fighting the battle with sin. But I have to admit that there are days when I wish I never would have given the sin a foothold in the first place. Because that’s the problem with sin. It doesn’t take long for a small leak to cause a flood. That sin you think is no big deal today can become a habit, an addiction, or even a stronghold that you have to fight to overcome and walk in freedom.
Perhaps that’s why the Apostle Paul tells us to: Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) Don’t entertain sin. Don’t play with it. Don’t see how close you can get to the line before you get caught and suffer consequences. Don’t try something just for the fun of it, or just to give it a try. Simply stay away. Instead cling to Jesus. Live close to Him. Choose to live a life worthy of your calling by obeying what the Bible says—-even if that earns you the reputation of boring. Or conservative. Or a radical follower of Christ. (Hmmm, that’s a pretty good reputation.)
