2.5.8 "Death Trap"

"Death Trap"

Exodus 21:22-23:13
Matthew 24:1-28
Psalm 29:1-11
Proverbs 7:6-23

When I was in college I had a Toyota Corolla that was quite the piece of work. It started great (which is a major point in northern MN!) and it ran great. It just has some rust issues. When you'd open the trunk you would just see the ground and gas tank. On the drivers side, it was just the carpet between your feet and the ground. (on it's way to being a Flintstone car!) It was a beautiful "primer gray", and when i sold it I was thrilled that i got over $300 for it. It was referred to by some as a death trap.

Proverbs 7 speaks of a "death trap"

"He was like a stag caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life." Proverbs. 7:22-23

What is this trap? It's a young man who is "lacking common sense, walking at twilight down the street to the house of this wayward girl, a prostitute."

Sin has a "fate awaiting". There's such a deceptive trap in sin. It becomes so powerful, because there's no "electric fence" instantly zapping the sinner for their waywardness. The consequences are many times delayed, but as subtle as the consequences may seem, the results are devastating.

What is the consequence? When thinking in Sunday School terms, "you go to hell". Well, there's truth to that, but what Jesus says in Matthew 24 really stood out to me today. He is talking about the end times. He speaks of false prophets and wars. Those seem so obvious. But in verse 12 he says, "Sin will be rampant everywhere and will cool the love of many."

Sin numbs us to the love of God. So many times I've heard in marriage counseling, "I just don't love him anymore." No one can point to a day where love stopped, it's just a gradual "loss". This happens spiritually. Small compromises gradually kill the fire for God. A little sin here & there may go unnoticed. There's no lightning from heaven. Nobody knows. Things must be ok, right?

There is a fate awaiting. The most horrible fate is to separated from God. Daily people make sinful decisions and think "I'm still ok." A deep rooted cancer of rebellion against God takes hold and begins the internal mission to kill love for God. Then one day there's a realization, "I don't love him anymore."

We'd want to think "that could never happen to me. I can beat this thing that lures me..." Yet we don't realize that our willingness to allow sin to remain in our life is a death trap.... little knowing it will cost us our lives.

"Praise the Lord, you angels of his; praise his glory and his strength. Praise him for his majestic glory, the glory of his name. Come before him clothed in sacred garments." Psalm 29:1-2

If you were to stand in the light of God's glory at this very second, what stains would appear on your clothing? Are your garments sacred? Would you run in shame trying to hide the stain, and attempt to scrub it out with your own strength and determination? The truth is, He's the only one with the "detergent" that will was our stain away. It's the blood of Jesus shed for us.

Be clean before him today. Be pure. Allow him to cleanse you. And stay away from the "death trap"

Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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