Master of the house, keeper of his domain – many are at the crossroads of this world or having crossed over have sold their soul-I am writing to you.

 

 There was a book I purchased titled ‘Men of honour a young man’s guide to exercise, nutrition, money, drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography and masturbation’- yes the big Mac that’s just like a taboo in a social setting but can enter comedy sets like Seinfeld.

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.” Job 31:1

 When we want to be real about the whole thing drugs, alcohol, addiction such as masturbation and porn, this is part of a deeper set problem. The truth is that there are no natural-born Christians and the record of most is in shatters as they naturally bend themselves to a black and white experience; that is some good and some evil.  The problem multiplies because of the internet age and dysfunctional families. For some involved in the above, there will be a tremendous struggle from that which is ingrained from childhood.

“Ghosts crowd the young child’s fragile, eggshell mind.” (from “Peace Frog,” by The Doors, 1970)

Remember this though a struggle and you will literally have to exercise the brain in cooperation with Christ, we have a redeemer who met us literally as we are and persevered and maintained his spirit to show us the way out of the problem- what I am saying here, you will also need to preserve and use a shovel- yes some hard work. Remember we have a kind Heavenly Father – the title of Him whom we address tells us that and also understanding more about the Father and the Son gives us an appreciation of this. So turning to the Father and Son will mean He will subdue our iniquities.

Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea

When we are young and first start to reason, this is the time Satan comes to give us baggage to carry in this world. Unfortunately, parents are not sensitive to what kids get up to with mates and computers etc though you would think it otherwise having been there themselves. He will try to have us carry that obsession of sin to the point of death and at death cast fear and doubt upon that which at earlier times he led us to.  He will come to us as he did to ‘pilgrim’ (as in pilgrims progress) as we cross the river so to speak,  it may misshape our thoughts and send us from God’s presence and truth if we don’t deal with sin (or with guilt though the sin is confessed) in a balanced way/ God’s way. Think of Saul’s obstinacy and excuses and David’s repentance and forgiving spirit.  David’s prayers go to the guts of many of us would wish to express  Ps 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 25:6   Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they [have been] ever of old. 25:7    Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.

We are affected and infected in many ways by those around us and our parents are not always the sentinels they ought to be and more often than not we are walking as in a dream when the evil one appears and we are carried away with his devices.

Sometimes it may be the most beautiful music not just the most beautiful girl you have ever seen. It doesn’t seem to have the same attraction as a hymn. For those that are brought up in truth, we come to the realization of the man of Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Who indeed shall deliver me from this body of death?? Some don’t know what to do with their thoughts and feelings at this point and some even commit suicide. Music can fed an emotion that does not take us to heaven but may well relate to our hope of salvation yet despair- that’s not where we want to be.

Unfortunately, as time goes by many young people die caught in Satan’s web, once heterosexual boy dies at an early age of AIDS, some suicide with a relationship disappointment, another has ex-marital affairs, another dies wealthy and by a drug overdose and I tell you many of these were baptized into Christ with me at an early age. God helps us to see it through faithfully to the end. Guard the sentinel of the soul as the Bible tells us to.

Proverbs 2:11  Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man], from the man that speaketh froward things; 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, [and] delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 2:15 Whose ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward in their paths: 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words; 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.2:18  For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

What about the sins of loneliness? The separation can be for multiple circumstances. It may well be a separation from those taking drugs and doing wrong. Yet in these times we lost the presence of God, as we misshaped our reality by approaching the situation with the wrong attitude.  Our thoughts and feelings were screaming at us and we screamed out to God and it seemed that He was not there. Is it I am too sinful for the presence of Him we ask ourselves?  Remember we cannot get anywhere without Him but He also cannot do for us which we must do for ourselves- cooperate. The test came and we failed. Here’s a lesson which we can learn from and improve for the future.  Bad circumstances need to be realized as Daniel approached the scene- turning them to his advantage and not halting in self-pity and sentimentalism- yes there will be some of that naturally but not all-consuming.

Often our thoughts and feelings misguide us and all we need to do is to step forward as the Israelites crossing the Jordan. The neural pathways need to change and that may not be immediate unless we want it so bad then yes by God’s grace it will be immediate. Psalms: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Understand everything about the media in which we bath ourselves is for heaven or hell and we need to sit down and pray about this.

Back to our book, I wish to tell you contrary to the world’s idea of moderation, God’s ideas and ideals are in the tree of life not good and evil. The mind is to control the body. Moderation and temperance are required in all good things. We need to educate the mind in the thoughts and feelings of God in totality.

 Ever seen the plains before the grand canyon- this is like our lives of good and evil no matter how small that evil is.  The plain of early life opens up into a canyon in which we can fall. We need to study with a depth of thought/ God’s thoughts; the life of Christ and Daniel.   Life is the sum of little thing to make it grand or a grand canyon that swallows us and catapults us into a lost eternity.

“Some may not labor half has hard to watch and keep the body under, yet at the same time they make a comparison of their lives with the lives of others who are unfortunately organized, and badly educated, and flatter themselves with the contrast, They talk of the errors, the wrongs, the failings, of the unfortunate, but do not feel that they have any burden in the matter farther than to dwell upon those wrongs, and shun those who are guilty of them. The prominent position which you as a family occupy in the church makes it necessary for you to be burden bearers. Not to take burdens for those who are able to bear their own, and also to aid others. But it is to help those who stand most in need of those who are less favorably situated, who are erring and faulty, and who may have injured you and tried your patience to the utmost. It is just the ones who Jesus pities, because Satan has more power over them, and is constantly taking advantage of their week points, and driving his arrows to hit them where they are least protected, Jesus exercises his power and mercy for just such pitiable cases. When He asked who loved most, Simon answered: “He to whom he forgave most.” Thus it will be. Jesus did not shun the weak, unfortunate, and helpless, but He helped such as-needed help. He did not confine His visits and labors to a class more intelligent and less faulty, to the neglect of the unfortunate. He did not inquire whether it was agreeable for Him to be a companion of the poorest, the neediest. These are the ones whose company He sought, the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This is the work you have neglected. You have shunned disagreeable responsibilities and have not gone to the erring and visited them, and manifested an interest and love for them, and made yourselves familiar with them. You have not had a spirit of Christlike forgiveness. You have marked out just such a course that all must come up to before you could throw over them your mantle of charity. You are not required to cloak sin, but to exercise that pitying love for the erring which Christ has exercised toward you.

You are placed under the most favorable circumstances for the development of good Christian characters. You are not where you feel pinching want, or where your souls are galled and distressed with the conduct of disobedient, rebellious children. In your family, there is no dissenting voice. You have all that heart can wish. Yet, notwithstanding your favorable surroundings, you have faults and errors, and much to overcome in order to be free from spiritual pride, selfishness, a hasty spirit, jealousy, and evil surmisings.”  {2T 76.1}

A dog by nature is an escapee or a stay at home depending on the breed and the nature. So too are there bred in hereditary factors which make us lean toward that which inheritance has given us. Thieves, lairs, adultery etc. Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.  Isaiah  1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.  1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

Often we try to tell people about their issues and we might even expect them to see our reason and get an apology back or change their behavior but like a wombat, they just fall into the same old patterns. This is the same as what we do- fall into the same old patterns. How well do we listen and follow up on the needs and cares of others? Not often that is one reason the Holy Spirit is not manifest with power to His people as ought to be.   Poor humanity, poor creatures of bad habits- only Christ can make a difference.  We are no longer to be creatures of the habit, of apathy, we need to act. 

Invest in yourself by engaging the Will to live to the Will of God and emulating His life, His character. Step forward towards the commandments to do them and Jesus will open the way to life. 

Porn kills/ as does addiction that associated with this addiction- masturbation 

 

Everyone eyes are blue

Everyone looks happy

But slowly we die inside

A mother cries as his son commits suicide

 

I once was a little boy

The apple of my mother eye

But satan came and took my childhood away

As I looked for happiness

For fun and love

A hand grabbed me from behind and pulled me under

My life was undone

 

The trill of life

The run for survival

But I sold my soul at the crossroads of life

Lord help us before life is over!