We are not encouraged to forsake our sin by having our senses amused or our preferences coddled. The Gospel is inherently and irreducibly confrontational. It cuts against our perceived righteousness and self-sufficiency, demanding that we forsake cherished sin and trust in someone else to justify us. Entertainment is therefore a problematic medium for communicating the Gospel, because it nearly always obscures the most difficult aspects of it – the cost of repentance, the cross of discipleship, the narrowness of the Way. Some will disagree, arguing that drama can give unbelievers a helpful visual image of the Gospel. But we have already been given such visual images. They are the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the transformed lives of our Christian brothers and sisters (Mark Dever and Paul Alexander).
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It’s not easy, but it is simple….

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“Search me, God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB)

That’s a request that only the brave of heart will make. To ask God to reveal any area that’s not pleasing to Him can certainly be uncomfortable. Nevertheless that’s the call of Psalm 139. Our move into 2021 comes with questions:​

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  • Am I going to allow the calendar to flip and just carry on as normal?
  • Am I going to be different?
  • Am I going to start doing some new things?
  • Am I going to make an intentional decision to grow spiritually this year or am I going to sit back and just see what happens?

What’s interesting is that when it comes to this idea, we never seem to struggle with noticing and pointing out what needs to change in the lives of those around us. Perhaps that’s because we’re on the outside looking in on those people and a little distance and a change in perspective make it easier. While that is true, the true reason probably has more to do with the “fun factor”. It’s way more fun to sit around and point out where others are struggling than it is to be honest with ourselves and address where we’re struggling.  

While it’s sometimes not fun to take an honest look at ourselves, it’s necessary and important for our spiritual health to do so on a regular basis. Here’s the big idea, “Stop it! It’s not easy but it is simple.”

Following Jesus is simple, it’s simply about patterning our lives after His teaching, looking to Him for guidance and direction. It’s simply about seeking Him for the forgiveness of our sins. It’s simply about studying His Word for how we should and should not be living our lives, being honest about the stuff in our lives that isn’t honoring to Him and then making moves to get rid of that stuff. Simple right? Yes, but it’s not always easy to do.

Allow me to quickly suggest two areas that God is calling us to flee from. The first one is an obvious one but it’s one that we can quickly get pulled into especially in the times we’re living it – drama! Here’s a snippet of what God’s Word says about this topic. 

2 Timothy 2:23 (NASB) says, “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.”

1 Timothy 6:20 (NASB) says, “Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”.

This politically charged, social media driven culture that we find ourselves in provides ample opportunity for us to get caught up in these “foolish and ignorant speculations”. Scroll social media for one minute and you’ll be barraged by “empty chatter” being passed off as “knowledge”. At best this serves as a distraction to what really matters and at worst we end up damaging our credibility as believers. 

God’s Word is clear, we are not to get caught up in this and it’s not beneficial for us or the unbelieving world around us. Steer clear. 

If you spend time praying Psalm 139:23-24 and God reveals to you that this is an area of struggle in your life the solution isn’t easy, but it is simple: You’ve got to cut whatever the source of that is out of your life.

Maybe it’s a friend group or a particular friend. Maybe it’s a particular social media platform. Maybe it’s you feeling like if you don’t have empty chatter and drama in your life then no one pays attention to you. Your value isn’t in the pot you stir or the cause you champion. Maybe for you it’s the realization that if all of your focus is on the drama and the empty chatter then you don’t have to deal with what God really wants to deal with in your life. Regardless, drama, empty chatter, arguing, strife, contention – not what God wants in our lives. Get rid of it!

The second area that comes to mind is much more specific and likely more difficult to deal with – temptation. Before we move any further it’s important to say, we’ll never rid our lives of all temptation but we can make moves to make it less aggressive and active in our lives. 

Here’s what I mean by that: If we’re honest, much of the temptation that we struggle with is a result of our own choices. We refuse to place ourselves in accountable relationships so we never have to deal with the hard questions of:

  • How’s your thought life?
  • What are you watching? Listening to? Reading? Are they glorifying to God?
  • Are your work habits reflecting your commitment to God?
  • Are your family habits glorifying to God?

Without accountability that only we can invite and accept into our lives we’ll continue to struggle and give into the same temptations we’ve always dealt with. We’ve made the bed we find ourselves in. 
 
Here’s what God’s Word says about putting ourselves in these types of situations:

“Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 (NASB)

“Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB) says “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

The Bible is clear that God is with us in the midst of temptation but it’s also clear that we have a responsibility to flee from temptation, to not continue to subject ourselves to unnecessary temptation and to place ourselves in situations that better allow us to be held accountable.

Of course temptation by itself isn’t a sin, it’s only when we give in to that temptation that we enter into sin. But it’s as if our goal has become to knowingly flirt with the line in an effort to see how close we can get without sinning. Friends, this approach is not  glorifying to God. It’s not easy but it is simple, flee from temptation. Place yourself in accountable relationships. 

Be encouraged and keep moving forward.