Have you ever heard of Brian Randone? He gradated from Moody Bible Institute where my husband Sam went to school. He also went to a divinity school in TX. He is a preacher with a website that talks about hell. He is this amazing mime who travels all over teaching, through pantomime, about how the little sins left in our life become unmanageable, burdensome, big sins if we don't deal with them...oh wait...let me clarify...he used to preach and travel...now he's in jail for torturing and murdering his girlfriend...the porn star. Really?
The end of this story was very unsettling because it hit too close to home. Here was a guy who graduated from 2 very conservative, upstanding Bible schools. He was in ministry; ministry that highlighted the dangers of secret sin. He knew his Bible well, and he had given his life to serving Christ. So what went wrong?
When evil happens, when people of faith turn away, only God has the answer to the question, "why?" I will never be able to know Brian's heart. I don't believe I am capable of making sense of this tragedy. However, I can make a choice today that will help keep me from becoming another casualty. Let's wade deeply through the Scriptures and get some God insights! What is He teaching us?
Ro 8:31-39 - What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 1:9 - But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
John 13:34 - So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
1 Co 10:13 - The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Matt 6:33 - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Ja 4:7 - So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ro 12:1-2 - And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Ro 7:18-25 - And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Eph 6:10-18 - A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Heb 12:28-29 - Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring (consuming) fire.
Ja 5:16 - Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Ja 5:19-20 - My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
Join me in asking the tough questions:
- His love - do you bask in His love for you? Seriously...do you spend time thinking about how much He loves you??
- Our sin - do you understand what it cost our God to bring forgiveness to us?
- Understanding forgiveness - do you really believe and relish the truth that your confession before the Lord brings forgiveness, freedom and healing from sin? Or, do you beat yourself up over your sin, lose heart, and give up?
- Our posture before Him - are you humble and dependent or prideful and independent? Are you overflowing with thankfulness or spilling over with complaining?
- Our choice: Self-centered or God-centered - do you live to please yourself, or the One who called you by name?
- Accountability/Confession - are you willing to tell others when you're struggling, confess your sins, and be held accountable?
