If you have ever done much carpenter work you know the awful pain when you miss the intended nail and hit the one attached to your finger. After all, the nail had to be held in place while getting it started. Let me tell you something, I learned after the first time that I did not want to hid the wrong nail again.
There has even been a time or two when I “had” to hold on to a nail while someone else took a whack to get it started. It didn’t take me long to figure out that wasn’t such a good idea either. The point to all of this is simple, hit the right nail and not the wrong one.
We all know the value and importance of learning from our mistakes and troubles. But sadly, we do not always apply this insight to the really important aspects of life. It has been man’s history to keep doing the same things that always gets him into trouble.
It is a matter of, HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Alcohol: When will we ever learn? It destroys families, maims and kills the innocent, takes advantage of those under its influence, and destroys trust, peace, and love. And yet we give it an honored place in our society. It is advertised as the key to happiness and success, and yet the opposite is true. Solomon asks, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?” The answer is alcohol, “In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder” Read Proverbs 23:29-35.
Sexual immorality: When will we ever learn? Nations from biblical times were destroyed because of sexual immorality. Sexual perversion was also prevalent in New Testament times. It too destroys families, corrupts love, and denigrates God’s intended purpose behind male and female. Paul said, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality” He also warned Christian to “flee sexual immorality.” Consider 1 Cor. 6:9-20.
Vain Worship: When will we ever learn? Israel was given the land of pagan idolaters. Israel themselves faced God‘s judgment for falling into idolatry. (Num. 25:1-9) The hypocritical Jews of the New Testament taught for doctrine the commandments of men and replaced God’s Word with their traditions. (Matt. 15:1-9) “True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” (John 4:6-24) Sadly, the religious world continues to discard Bible teaching for the same of their own wishes and traditions.
Hear we go again. Yes, many make the same mistakes and commit the same sins of the past. All we have to do is look back to see the disastrous results when people rebel against God, but our society has turned a blind eye to these lessons. No one has to go there again. You and I can break the cycle simply by following God’s Word. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:51-58)
Terry Starling