I Ain ’t In It!

 

I Ain ’t In It!

Revelation 18: ⁹ The kings of the earth who took part in her immorality and lust will cry and weep over the city when they see the smoke from the flames that consume her. ¹⁰ They stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They say, “How terrible! How awful! This great and mighty city Babylon! In just one hour you have been punished!”

 

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Getting caught in the act made me feel uncomfortable. I looked at others who were involved to speak up but no one stepped up. When I went to one guy, he said “My name is Bennet, I Ain ‘t  in it!” as if to say, I have nothing to do with your punishment! Ain ‘t is slang for “am not.”

 

• I wanted others to join in with me, so maybe my punishment would be milder.
• I wanted someone else to speak up so perhaps my punishment would go away.
• I actually did not know what I was expecting by asking guilty people for help to jump in when I was caught.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was shown the fall of the great city that caused people to sin. Those who had joined in sexual sin mourned over the great punishment imposed on the city. But they stood off in the distance, afraid of sharing in the suffering.

 

My Observations:

• There is strength in numbers until “I” get caught doing something.
• I feel comfortable when “everyone” else is doing the same bad thing that I want to do.
• My best path is to stay away from doing the thing in the first place.

 

Risking getting caught is not the problem, rather doing the thing I would get caught doing, in the first place is the problem. Did I say that right? I mean, I should fear doing the thing that upsets GOD in the first place rather than fearing the consequence of my sinful action.

 

Before I commit the act, I should ask myself, “Is this worth losing everything over this moment of pleasure or this act of hatred?” “NO!” should be the answer. GOD gives me a way out that the tempting great city does not offer. HE provides forgiveness where the tempting city provides death. I choose JESUS for my forgiveness.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer include the distance of the guilty people from the great city?
• Have you ever gotten caught for something you did wrong?
• Will you learn from your mistakes and stay away from easy sin so you will not have to face consequences today?

GOD not me, send someone else!

Exodus 4: ¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

¹⁴ Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 

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“Why doesn’t this church have a good choir?” was the thought that ran through my mind. Then another thought popped in my head, “why don’t they have a program that reaches out ‘this’ group of people?” Then another thought came to mind, “wow this building is old, they should fix it up.”

Then the pastor asked for volunteers to help with “something” but I wasn’t listening. I mean they are always begging for money or volunteers. I’m sure someone else will step up.

• Sometimes when there is a need I make excuses.
• Sometimes I can’t see people in need because I have my head down doing my thing.
• Sometimes I ignore the needy because it just seems like it would take so much work to help them and I don’t have the time, resources or energy to assist.

GOD speaks to me all the time; I just choose to not listen to HIM.  HE shows me people in need during what seems like the most inopportune times.  Whether tired or worn down or busy, it seems like something will pop up when I’m at my worst. “Can’t you send someone else?” I ask.

• GOD has a special purpose for me that only I can do.
• GOD has a plan for me that does not always include my plans.
• GOD wants me to see HIS plan as a benefit, not an inconvenience.

Quite honestly if it were my plan, I and everyone I know would be wealthy, retired and on constant vacation. BUT GOD wants something different. HE wants me to prepare the way for HIS SON’s return. This will be met with anguish, fights and challenges. I choose to accept HIS plan.

• Are you avoiding people in need because you are in need?
• Do you feel you have nothing left to give?
• Can you look to GOD and ask HIM what HE wants you to do?
• Won’t you reach out and help someone today?

Time to change my diet

Hebrews 5: ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

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After a night of laughter I went back to my apartment only to arrive with a tremendous pain in my chest. I had never felt a pain like this. The next day I visited the doctor and he said everything was alright. This incident had solidified my thought of going back to church.

It had been a while since I had sat in church and wouldn’t you know I picked up with the same boring old stories about one or two people who did some miraculous thing. Just when I was about to check out someone asked me if I could teach. Me? Teach? Hey wait a minute… “I don’t know the Bible” I thought.

• I stayed away from learning GOD’s messages because I wanted to do what I wanted to do.
• I stayed away from being acquainted with righteous teaching because I wanted to do what I wanted to do.
• I stayed away from heavier learning about GOD because it seemed like the less I knew the more I could get away with.

It’s amazing how critical I was of pastors and teachers. I would sit and listen and if they miss-stepped then I would check back in and criticize. I would then check out and halfway look at GOD here and there, never pondering HIM or asking about HIM, but when I needed something I was right there on my knees asking HIM for stuff.

• GOD wants me to attempt to know HIM better each day.
• GOD wants me to learn of HIM because HIS tie to HIM is easy and HIS burden is light.
• GOD wants me to be acquainted with HIS teaching about righteousness so I can become mature and be able to distinguish good from evil.

It really shouldn’t take a scary incident to get me back in church, nor should it take some drastic situation to get me to learn about GOD. HE wants me to focus on HIM daily and watch HIS miracles unfold.

• Are you avoiding GOD?
• Are you afraid to grow in HIS teaching?
• Won’t you try to learn more about HIM?
• Can’t you reach a little further and try learning some of the “harder to understand” things about GOD?