I watched this skit called "Everything" by Lifehouse, then I watched it again. If you haven't linked to it from the "Skittles" post on Blessed, you should do so now.
I want to ponder a certain part of the skit but I won't give you the time marker because I want you to watch the whole thing. It really is a powerfully emotional message.
At one point, the main character drifts away, is pulled away, is distracted from God, whichever fits your mindset. After a moment of awareness she realizes what she has become and looks to Jesus for rescue. But there is a problem. Those distractions, sins, stand between her and Jesus. She reaches for Him, calls out to Him, even begs and fights to return, but the things she has invited into her life just fight back.
It doesn't take much for us to leave God behind. Desires, temptations, our own self-righteousness are just a few things that open a chasm between ourselves and God. But when we allow those things into our lives, they take hold. It only takes a moment, one decision, one wrong choice, to set ourselves on a path that takes us away from our walk with God. But the road to repentance and restoration is long and hard. It's a rough road back.
Those choices that seem so wonderful and right at the time will eventually reveal themselves to be destructive. The Bible says, "...even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) Just as he has done since the dawn of man, Satan uses things that we interpret as blessings to turn us away from God. This is why it is so important to stay in the Word, to abide in Him. Our spiritual eyes can see these things, but they have to be focused on God.
I'm reminded of the kudzu vine. You can plant one small root in minutes, but getting rid of the stuff is nearly impossible. It's the same with sin.
To bring this around to a positive note, the end of the skit shows Jesus seeing and hearing her cries for deliverance. Her repentant heart allows Him to intercede. And it's an amazing thing to see Him jump in and cast away the things that had come between them. He shields her from the evil things and the video ends with their relationship restored. Amen.
God isn't going to let us go. But why should we use that as an excuse to follow our own lead? We go about walking our own path, then call on Him to bail us out when it turns out to be a dead-end. Better to stay on His path from the start.
Have a great day.
