When the Unacceptable Becomes Unnoticeable

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
01/14/24 - General

Looking forward to the showing of what had been one of my favorite movies, I remembered it as clean and wholesome. Then one spot came and I recalled, oh yeah, I wish that word hadn't been used, but now the rest will be fine. On with the movie.

A bit later came another unfortunate moment. And then another. Wow, I didn't remember all this unacceptable language. I do not think anyone added these parts to the movie since I had last seen it years earlier. The problem was I was foolishly living away from the Lord to where Satan coaxed me to being comfortable with sin. I should have paid more attention to God's many warnings of that dangerous path that seems barely bumpy at first before hitting a deep rut. These include Proverbs 4:14-16 where we read, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall."

New Testament versions of this essential advice include Ephesians 5:15 -- "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,"

We sometimes hear of religious leaders being arrested for crimes one would not have expected from one in such a position. Most likely, such had not been the intent all along for these people. But gradually without realizing it they were pulled into a sinful path. My movie example is just one case of how quickly the unacceptable becomes unnoticeable.

Those finding themselves off the narrow road to heaven can pray to the Lord and also ask for prayers from Christians who are instructed to help erring ones back to the right path. We all need to be careful this does not happen to us. We need the caution expressed in Proverbs 4:23-27 -- "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil."

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV)