What is a sigh? It is more than an exhalation of air that is the runoff of emotions. Without words, it can be a prayer, a lament, a praise ... but it cannot be manufactured. Every sigh is truth.
Here are some sighs I've had recently:
I have my own sighs. If you're honest, you have them, too.
Our Lord had these words to say, recorded by St. Matthew in 7:24-26:
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The Great Moral Law of the Universe is that you go against Truth - the Word of God - at your own ruin. If you want to be god, you will soon find out just how powerful - or impotent - you are. And God help the innocent lives you inevitably and irreparable damage.
But the opposite is gloriously true! If you bow your knees in admittance to your powerlessness and cling to His mercy and accept His Grace, there is no limit to the blessing and peace that is yours in abundance and overflow.
YOU choose.
If you want to play god, be prepared to accept those consequences.
Satan will try and seduce you with the following: "Oh, it won't be that bad! You can do it! Besides, you've always got __________ to fall back on - they'll always help! It's just a few 'wild oats'; you're not addicted, THEY have the problem! Your spouse/mother/father never understood you - you'll prove them wrong!"
But the bile of regret, remorse and grief will long linger on your tongue.
So I beg you: embrace the freedom of being a slave to the Righteous One, Jesus Christ! For he has promised:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-37)
Is the cost of being a Christ Follower high? It will cost you everything. And paradoxically give you everything.
But the cost of trying to be god ... it will take what you have and even what you don't.
Here are some sighs I've had recently:
- The sigh of regret. Because they ran from the Lord, they picked up bad habits, got shackled by addictions, constructed a criminal record that reared it's head regularly and at inconvenient times, they regularly are beset by problems with their spouses, children, church family and jobs.
- The sigh or remorse. Because they ignored the Lord's direction, the spouse they married suddenly reverts back to (or never changed from) being an unpredictable and selfish person they are now obligated to keep covenant and take the high road with.
- The sigh of grief. They have a son or daughter who rebelled against the Lord and against them. Now, they are trying to help them because their adult children are without work, without support, laden with with financial or familial obligations they are neither practically or emotionally prepared to meet.
I have my own sighs. If you're honest, you have them, too.
Our Lord had these words to say, recorded by St. Matthew in 7:24-26:
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The Great Moral Law of the Universe is that you go against Truth - the Word of God - at your own ruin. If you want to be god, you will soon find out just how powerful - or impotent - you are. And God help the innocent lives you inevitably and irreparable damage.
But the opposite is gloriously true! If you bow your knees in admittance to your powerlessness and cling to His mercy and accept His Grace, there is no limit to the blessing and peace that is yours in abundance and overflow.
YOU choose.
If you want to play god, be prepared to accept those consequences.
Satan will try and seduce you with the following: "Oh, it won't be that bad! You can do it! Besides, you've always got __________ to fall back on - they'll always help! It's just a few 'wild oats'; you're not addicted, THEY have the problem! Your spouse/mother/father never understood you - you'll prove them wrong!"
But the bile of regret, remorse and grief will long linger on your tongue.
So I beg you: embrace the freedom of being a slave to the Righteous One, Jesus Christ! For he has promised:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-37)
Is the cost of being a Christ Follower high? It will cost you everything. And paradoxically give you everything.
But the cost of trying to be god ... it will take what you have and even what you don't.
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