The Presidential election is coming up in just a few weeks. Please don’t click off now, I promise this is not a political post (I’m just as sick as you about all the garbage we have to listen to). Over the past few months I’ve had lots of conversations that included the question, “How did we get here?” There are many different views of the current state of the USA. Add that I live in North Carolina and it just makes this past year even more fun. There are many views of how we got to where we currently are. I’m not here to offer my opinion on all of that, but there have been plenty of times in my life where I have wondered, “How did I get here?”
A couple of months ago, after a big fight with Angela, I found myself asking that question. And the truth was there wasn’t one specific moment that I could point to. Rather it was lots of little things culminating. There were lots of factors that led to that fight. There have been times in my life where I didn’t feel as close to God, and I would ask, “How did I get here?” It wasn’t because I missed one quiet time and boom I was separated from God. There were lots of factors. There were missed quiet times, sin in my life, empty worship at church, and who knows what else. I’ve been at that place with jobs I’ve been in. I’ve been there with relationships I’ve been in.
Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.” It wasn’t some big catastrophic event that was destroying the vineyard. Rather it was little foxes that had been let in that were slowly tearing it to pieces. Too many times in my life that has been the answer to, “How did I get here?” I let the little foxes in. I left the gate cracked so they could start tearing things apart. James said it this way, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15). What starts as a simple temptation ends up leading to death.
I continually have to learn how to shut the door to those little temptations. It can be very tempting to just set a dish in the sink to be taken care of in the morning, but is it worth frustrating Angela when she sees it in the morning and takes care of it? It can be easy to put off reading the Bible, but is it worth not spending that time with God? It can be tempting to check out during the sermon at church because I’ve heard that topic preached hundreds of times, but it is worth not allowing God to speak to me? The little foxes look cute and fun at first, but they will grow into monsters.
until next time…