When you are a Christian, there are two roads to take: The road that is narrow, or the way that is broad. Here is the thing about both roads: Jesus calls us to "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) We, as Christians, are being called to get off of the broad way and walk the narrow road in order to follow Christ Jesus. We are following a path of life, not destruction.
It is easy to stray off of the path, though. We live in a world where many are walking the road that leads to destruction. We are surrounded by people who will go out and do things that are against Christ, and they may do it often around us or even offer us to join in. We, as followers of Christ, cannot let this become an excuse. We have our own road to follow. We cannot choose to sin simply because "everyone else is doing it", or because "it's not a big sin."
What if Jesus did what everyone else was doing? He would have been sinning all of the time and He would have become imperfect, and our salvation would have never come. We would be hopeless, never being able to go anywhere but the grave and Hell. But Jesus did not follow the crowd. He did not walk the broad road. He walked the narrow path.
Some of you might say, "Well that was Jesus. He was perfect." Well, 1 Peter 1:16 says, "For it is written: Be holy because I am holy.'" God is calling us to be holy regardless of how we feel about it. It is a fact that God is calling His people to be holy; holy meaning set apart, completely different. He is not calling you to conform to this world, He is calling you to be separated. Are we not supposed to listen to God? 1 John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - come not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
How can you read this and say, "Well Jesus was perfect and I'm not so it's OK to sin some more?" God is calling you into holiness, not perfection. He is calling you to love Him, not the world. I could pull out scripture and argue this for days, but here is what it comes down to. Do you love God and respect Him for who He is? If you said yes, then you should be willing to give up anything for Him. He died on the cross for your sins. You can either take His grace and mercy, or go face Hell yourself. There is no way around it. He paid the ultimate price for you, and you stand here and say that you refuse to give up something for God? When did money die on the cross for you? When did expensive cars and clothes redeem you out of the true pit of Hell, and not just a metaphorical one? When did anything in this world die and rise again so that you may go to Heaven instead of Hell? Never. So why would you ever compromise your faith for an object that will pass away in a few decades? Christ is forever, and only what you do for Christ will last.
If you say you love God, then prove it. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commands." (John 14:15) Do you love God? Don't say yes because it is the right answer. God is calling you to be holy and not be of this world. No excuses. Jesus said that He sent the Holy Spirit to help us in all things, even in being holy. Call on the Holy Spirit for help if you have true faith. This is the call to you. If you love God, cast away the things of the Earth and follow Him with all of your heart like He asked. He held nothing back for you. He stepped down from Heaven, came into the form of a poor man who had nothing, and died the death that you deserved. If you are not willing to put God first after what He did for you, you are an ungrateful child who does not deserve what God has done for you. Do not expect full time benefits from working a part time job. If you have faith in God and you love Him, don't just say it, live it! This is your call, right here. Step up if you truly love God! There are no excuses at all. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13) So step up and God will give you the strength to do the rest.
-D
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