My own sin seems to parade before my heart, mind and soul like the neon lights on the Vegas strip! There is so much about my life I find disgusting. Yet with the mercy and grace of God available, at least I do have a distant hope for the type of radical change that I desire. Unlike the Vegas strip that may continue flashing in all it's glory, perhaps the bright lights of the sin in my life will fade into the distant horizon.
The "modus operandi", to continue in this analogy would go: "well I just want to go down on the Vegas strip to see the lights, but will not allow myself to....." Then the lights begin to call. I am there. I am standing in front of the place I do not want to go and know is not well for my soul, but yet I gaze and linger long enough to say "well maybe I will just go into the lobby and not....." I walk in. I am fascinated. It started with a glance, then a stare, then a decision to just scope things out a bit. In no time at all, I find myself broken, disgusted, and riddled with the guilt and shame of making so-called innocent decisions that all along I knew would be wrong.
There is an enemy of my soul who knows exactly how to flash the lights in the perfect rhythm than can lure me, specifically appealing to sinful desire. He knows the cadence that rapes my mind. I try to turn away, but the rhythm continues. It escalates and pulsates in a way that just feels irresistible. He knows me and my tendency to "enjoy" from a distance without an intention of being burned. I linger one second too long, and its too late.
Last night I heard a man say that he hates the way we tend to "pet the snake" just a split second shy of thinking the venom is coming. We end up bitten. We take the neon far too lightly. The lights are designed to draw and lure, but I find a way to excuse this. I "pet the snake" with the idea that perhaps I can avoid the strike at the very last second. It is so often too late and the anti-venom may save my life, but does not remove the necrosis in my flesh, the scaring of the wound, and the discoloration of the tissue that remains visible forever.
The apostle Paul says in Romans 13:14 " But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Just don't go there. Stop it! Do not even look at the snake or think you might enjoy the lights. Easier said than done, but nonetheless the solution. Stop with the compromise that feels good for a moment but in the end leads to death. God help me to just stay away. Help me to avoid the Vegas strip and the fascination with the lights when I know what is behind and beyond them. I know what they represent and I know where they may lead. Just do not go there!
They may be beautiful, but also deadly!
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