Fear No Fear

““Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of the grave” (Proverbs 9:17-18, MEV). The Lord has never denied that there are things He does not approve of that feel good. That appear good. That are enjoyable. He would be lying if He did. If sin didn’t feel good, no one would do it. We get pleasure from it, which is why we do it. Instead, the Lord again and again and AGAIN tries to get us to look BEYOND the feeling. BEYOND the act. BEYOND the words. BEYOND the thinking. If we look BEYOND the thing and at the CONSEQUENCES of the thing, it would be MUCH simpler NOT to sin. If we really looked at the long-term effects on our bodies, relationships, finances, emotions, and everything, we would walk away from most, if not all, sin. I read a man of God who wrote: ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, until we get on the other side of the fence’. God spent hundreds of years through many different prophets warning His people of what would happen if they indulged in idolatry, adultery, immoral business dealings, and the oppression of widows and orphans. For HUNDREDS of years, His people refused to listen. When the consequences came, they could blame lots of things and lots of people, but not God. God told them the truth. They chose the truth. God warns ALL of us about the consequences of our choices and behaviour. He also warns us about the consequences of obedience. They are like night and day. ALL sin causes problems of one kind or another. God’s ways? Don’t. Seems like a simple choice. We know it’s important because God won’t stop talking about it. THOUSANDS of years now and He is still talking about what comes next. He won’t stop. He loves us too much to leave us ignorant.