What Do You Believe In?

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Faith is unavoidable. Everybody believes in something. There are those who believe that there is no God; there are those who believe that there is one God; there are those who believe that there are many gods, and there are those who believe that the universe (or nature itself) is God.
Those who believe that there is one God have different beliefs about Him. Those who believe that there are many gods have different versions of those gods. Those who believe that everything is God have their own reasons why, and those who believe that there is no God have other beliefs about how life began. 
The atheists, for example, believe that there is no such being as God. Instead, they believe that the universe formed itself in the ways that scientists suggest.

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One of these suggestions is called the ‘Big Bang’ theory. The theory states that the universe began as a single particle which then exploded to form the planets and the stars. However, nobody saw such an event taking place. It is an imaginary event that was proposed by a Belgian Roman Catholic priest known as Georges Lemaître in 1927.
The reason given for this theory is that the universe has been expanding over time. However, this does not prove anything, because there could be a million other reasons why that has been happening. Imagining an answer is the same as composing a fairy tale, and it leaves the door wide open for misinterpretations.

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Another popular theory is the Evolution theory. The theory states that all life forms came from one common ancestor that slowly developed into the many different animals and plants that we have today. Once again, nobody saw the so-called common ancestor or saw it turning into all the species that exist, and so nobody can say without a doubt that that is what truly happened. The people who came up with this theory did not do so because they know that what they say is what happened. Rather, they BELIEVE that it did. Nobody can swear that the homo-whatever fossils of apes are not simply some extinct types of apes that lived alongside ordinary men and stole their tools. As it is, when speculations are made about something, there is no limit to the great number of ideas and assumptions that people can come up with. However, ideas are ideas, and falling for them just because they sound like a good explanation for something is not the wise thing to do.

I could go on and on about the many beliefs and theories that exist in this world, but that is not the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is to ask an important question: Are you sure that what you have believed in is true, or have you believed in something that is false? Do you believe in what you believe just because other people told you, or did you take the time to thoroughly research it by yourself and personally find out that it is true? If you did not, how can you be so sure that it is not just an outright lie?

The Heaven's Gate cult mass suicide
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In 1997, 39 people committed suicide because they believed that the world was going to end on March 26th of that year. Their leader had told them that the Hale-Bopp comet that had come very close to the earth that year was being followed by a spacecraft, and that they would need to board it by their souls so as to escape this doomed planet. It sounded very sensible and logical to them because they could see the comet and it had never come so close to the earth before, but as fate would have it, they died for nothing. Such is the tragedy of putting ones' faith in something false. It costs the person his or her energy, time, money, effort and even life.

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Considering the large number of beliefs that there are in the world, each one being either slightly or greatly different from the other, it is obvious that there are false beliefs and true beliefs. The truth is the truth, and it is not something that changes to suit the whims and preferences of any particular person. If something is, then it is, and if it is not, then it is not. No matter how much someone believes in something that is not true, it will not become true just to suit them. It will remain false no matter how sincere the believer is and no matter how much he or she defends it. For this reason, it is important to first be very sure about what you are believing in before you believe in it. You may end up finding out that you wasted your valuable time, energy, effort and money believing in what you did.

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As a Christian, I have come to appreciate the value of knowing my faith well. There are many denominations that subscribe to the Christian faith, but a close look at them reveals quite a number of differences. However, a careful study of the Bible, a practical experience and observation of its principles and promises, and a deep look into the large amount of evidence available concerning what is written in it, gives someone a clear message of what the truth is. 
The Bible contains an accurate account of many historical events that have been proven, as well as hundreds of accurately fulfilled prophecies. Furthermore, the remaining prophecies are continuing to be fulfilled each day. Some of the websites that describe the truthfulness of the Bible are http://www.creationevidence.org/ and http://www.reasons.org/ . In addition, the presence and power of the God of the Bible is continually manifested in peoples day to day lives. People experience supernatural healing and answers to prayers by calling on the name of Jesus Christ.

As one famous quote says, “The man with an experience is not at the mercy of the man with an argument”. Being absolutely sure of the truth makes someone immune to and able to disprove any elaborate arguments, opinions and deception that they may be presented with.
Having taken the time to establish that what I believe in is absolutely true, I can now confidently testify without any doubt that the God of The Bible is true, that Jesus Christ lives and He is who He said He is, and that The Bible is God's Word.

Every human being has the opportunity and personal responsibility to seek the truth for themselves and not just rely on hearsay, suggestion, tradition, opinion or imagination. As the Bible says, “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” - Hebrews 11:1
Bother to find out more about what is and is not true. Do not live a life that will end up having been a joke on yourself.

Who Will Sit on The White Throne of Judgment?

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As human beings, we have a tendency to want to be liked by other people and have them think well of us. We want them to admire us, say nice things about us and hold us in high regard. This is despite the fact that we may be doing some not-so-nice things behind their back that they know nothing about. I have often seen people looking very embarrassed and ashamed when some hideous thing that they were doing in secret is exposed on national TV. They do not want to be seen and known as not-so-good people. They would rather have people continue to think of them as the most wonderful people in the world. It does not matter that God knows all of their dark and sinister secrets. What matters is how other people see them.

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This tendency to want to look admirable to others has a way of making us less concerned about pleasing God and more concerned about how to please and be accepted by other people. For example, if those whom we associate with think that it is foolish to still be a virgin, we go ahead and sleep around. If they think that drugs are cool, we go ahead and become addicts. If they think lowly of certain people, we go ahead and develop a hatred for those people and start discriminating against them. Whatever they are doing, even if it is something bad that is obviously contrary to God's will, we join them lest they reject us.

This brings us to the question that has been asked at the beginning of this post: Who will sit on the throne of judgment on judgment day? Will it be our friends whom we work so hard to please and be accepted by? Will it be our neighbors who speak well of us? Will it be those whom we are really nice to while at the same time being not-so-nice to others? Will it be those whose demands we make sure that we meet even if it means pushing God aside?

Obviously, the answer is no. God is the one who will sit on that judgment throne. His judgment will not be based on what people know. His judgment will not be based on what people think. His judgment will not be based on what people feel about us. Rather, His judgment will be based on His Word and on His flawless knowledge about each one of us.

We may seem good to others but have wicked thoughts and hearts. We may do many praise-worthy and celebrated deeds but have the wrong motives. We may do some things just to look good and get praise but not because that is what we truly want or love to do. We may smile at others but not really love them at all. We may do things that seem good to us and to others but are actually wrong before God.

God sees and knows everything about everything that there is to know under the sun. He knows everything about our thoughts; He knows everything that is in our hearts; He knows everything about our actions; He knows everything about our motives; He knows everything about our desires, and He knows everything about our plans. The Bible says that there is nothing that is hidden before God. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before Him to whom we must all give account (Hebrews 4:13).
Therefore, when that momentous day of judgment arrives, what other people thought about us will be of no value to us. It is God who will have all the say, and it is He alone who will determine our future destiny. If we ignored Him and pushed Him aside for the sake of our friends and those we loved and wanted to be loved by, all that will come crushing down in a moment. The popularity that we had will turn into disgrace; the pride that we had will turn into shame; the joy that we had will turn into grief, and the contentment that we had will turn into regret.

It is therefore up to us to decide who and what is more important for us to live for, and to count the cost of our choices here on earth. Eternity will be a never-ending experience, and any wrong decisions and choices that we make here on earth will cost us forevermore.

"Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." - Matthew 10:37

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." - 1 John 2:15-17
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." - Mark 8:36-38

Everything Will Be Judged

 If you are reading this post, then you are one of those to whom God has granted the gift of life this day. It may look like no big deal, because after all we have seen so many other days before this one and are still expecting to see many more.
It is easy and common for us to take a new day for granted and not regard it so highly, seeing it as just another 24 hours that will soon pass away to usher in yet another more or less similar day.
Nevertheless, as insignificant as those hours may sometimes seem, the Bible tells us that each and every moment of each and every day matters greatly before God. It informs us that God will judge us for every single thing that we did during our time on earth, be it our words, thoughts, actions, intentions, ignorance, negligence and so on. As the following scriptures show:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." - Luke 8:17

“God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matthew 12:36-37

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." - Revelation 20:12

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." - Hebrews 4:13

"So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." - Romans 14:12

As mentioned above, God will judge not only wickedness but also righteousness. Those who will enter His kingdom will be given rewards of various kinds depending on how well they served Him. The Bible informs us that:

"the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." - 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48b

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." - Jeremiah 17:10

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." -Revelation 22:12
 
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them...to each according to his own ability...After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them...So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents...His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'...Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man...and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’...But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant...take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" - Matthew 25:14-30

It is therefore clear that everything that we have done and are doing will have a great impact on us, and that it will all be brought out into the open later on to undergo a careful analysis by God in the full view of everyone. Furthermore, we will all be judged and rewarded individually according to how we personally walked with God, and the glory or shame, joy or misery that we will receive for our actions will be ours to carry alone.
As we go through each day therefore, it is good to take note of this fact, because as the Bible says, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God, and we will all be held personally accountable and responsible for all our decisions and actions on earth, given the fact that we are always free at all times to choose to do what is right.

The Liebster Award

I was recently nominated for The Liebster Award by Ms. Patricia Townsend, who runs the blog Voice From the End Of Town at http://hsmentormom.blogspot.com. The blog is about her Christian faith and life in Christ. My heartfelt appreciation goes out to her for this warm gesture, and I am really touched and humbled by it. The Liebster Award is a real award that allows bloggers to give recognition to other bloggers and encourage them to continue blogging. To qualify for this award, you must follow the rules below:

1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger, and link back to their blog.
2. Tell 11 random facts about yourself.  
3. Answer the 11 questions that the nominating blogger came up with. 
4. List 11 bloggers who (as far as you can tell) have 200 followers or less and you believe deserve a little recognition and encouragement to continue.
5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominated to answer.
6. Go to the pages of those you have nominated and tell them. 
7. Do NOT nominate someone who has nominated you.

I should have done all this sooner (as I had informed Ms. Patricia), but have been so busy that I haven’t had time to post as much as I would like to. Well, so much for the delay. I have to do this and do it now, so here goes:

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I am the first born in a family of five kids: four girls and one boy.
2. I got born again in 2004 after listening to a sermon on TBN.
3. I’m single and see it as an opportunity to devote more time to seeking and serving God (1 Corinthians 7).
4. I recently shaved my hair and find that it is easier for me to manage it that way.
5. I would love to visit Israel sometime so as to see and experience the places and things I read about in the Bible.
6. I have only been out of the country (Kenya) once in my lifetime, when I was 5 years old and accompanied my mum to the UK.
7. My favorite childhood pastime was to write, read and narrate fairy tales.
8. I used to be a Catholic before I got born again, and now I’m the only one in my family who is not one.
9. My favorite-est snack is roasted peanuts.
10. When it comes to pets, I prefer cats to dogs. I find them to be so much more graceful and elegant. Maybe this is because I grew up surrounded by as many as eight cats at a go. As I write this, there are actually eight cats in my mum’s house right now.
11. I hate pessimism. I like to keep a positive outlook at all times.

Patricia’s Questions To Me 
1. How long have you been blogging?

I started blogging in April last year. That is nine months ago.

2. What made you start blogging?

I started blogging so as to shine back the light that God has shone upon me in this dark world that I too was once blinded by (Matthew 28:19-20).

3. What was one of the greatest moments in your life?

When I finally understood God’s plan of salvation and got born again.

4. If you made a "bucket list", what would be #1?

Lead the whole world to Christ.

5. What's your favorite color and why?

Truth be told, I really don’t have a favorite color, but I prefer cool colors because I find them to be easier to blend and more professional-looking.

6. What season do you prefer?

Spring.

7. Maserati or minivan?

Maserati

8. Paris or Vegas?

Paris.

9. Moonlight serenade or dinner & a movie?

Dinner.

10. What one thing do you wish everyone understood about you?

I do not like to dwell on the past or on the negatives. I perform better when I'm encouraged rather than picked on or torn down.

11. In 100 years, how do you want to be remembered?

As a true lover and follower of God.

My 11 Nominees

1. Frank King, Frank King’s Blog: wwwefrankking.blogspot.com
2. Amircar Diaz, Christian Living: http://amircarmickydiaz.blogspot.com/
3. Richard Hobart, About The Master’s Business: http://www.heismyallinall.com
4. Scott Lolmaugh, Do You Believe That: http://dontbeliveit.blogspot.com/
5. Mel Libre, Blotfree: http://www.blotfree.com
6. Carl Jones, I’d Laugh…But All This Happened To Me!: http://youthguy07.blogspot.com/
7. Anthony (untonyto), Life and Times of Antony: http://antonyhimself.blogspot.com/
8. Freddy Winter, Media 4 Life Ministries: http://freddywinter.blogspot.com/
9. Sonam Dorji, Living Through My Thoughts: http://somdoji.blogspot.com/
10. Desmond Desyboy’s Blog : http://desybo.blogspot.com/
11. Krissy K, July Flame: http://krissyk-julyflame.blogspot.com/

My 11 Questions

1. Why do you blog?
2. What do you value the most in life?
3. If you were to start your life all over again, what things if any would you do differently?
4. What is your worst habit?
5. What is your best way to relax?
6. What is your favorite food?
7. What gets on your nerves (i.e. irritates you)?
8. Which human being do you admire the most?
9. What is your favorite quote?
10. What is your favorite TV show?
11. Who is God to you?

 

It's a New Year

We are now in the year 2013. You and I are among those who have been blessed with the opportunity to usher it in. There are many people who cannot join us in the celebration because they are not here with us. Some of them died just a few minutes before the new year began. Out of these, there are probably those who would rather be where they are now. Others, however, might want to come back (Luke 16:19-31).
We should therefore treasure and be thankful for each day that we see, because it is a God-given opportunity to do things that truly matter and that make a positive difference in our lives and those of others, both here on earth and thereafter.
Unfortunately though, this is not what always happens. Many are the things that we do that make our lives worse instead of making them better. Such things weigh us down, drain us, fill our lives with stress, depression, misery and regret, and also act as a barrier to God’s plans and blessings in our lives. They include bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, rage, ethnic divisions, rudeness, jealousy, strife, drug abuse, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, arrogance, and so on (Galatians 5: 19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Colossians 3:5-8, 2 Timothy 2:16, etc). They are of no benefit to anyone and only add unnecessary complications and gloom to our lives.

When we begin a new year, if we do not get rid of such things, then the new year ends up being just a continuation of the previous ones’ turmoil, baggage and setbacks. We end up rotating in a vicious cycle of unprofitable clutter that becomes harder and harder to break out of as days pass. As one famous quote says,

“Watch your actions for they become your habits;

Watch your habits for they become your character;

Watch your character for it shapes your destiny.”

It is therefore good to do some spiritual, mental, emotional and practical spring-cleaning so as to break out of the vicious loops that keep entangling us and holding us back, and move on to the greater things that God plans for us. This makes life more worth the while and less strenuous.

In addition, we should use the time that we have as wisely as we can, because just like those who have not seen this year, we do not know how much time we have left and whether or not we will see the next one.

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:15-16

Why Are You Celebrating The Birth of Jesus Christ?

Christmas is here again. The shops are full of goodies; sales are going on everywhere; malls are teeming with buyers; gifts are being bought; cards are being exchanged; parties are being planned; carols are being sung; kids are excited; tourism is at its peak; lumberjacks are having a great time cutting down trees, and the first chapters of Matthew and Luke are being read extensively.

As is usual during this time of the year, people are in a jovial mood and merrymaking is at its best. Towns everywhere are painted red as revelers, both young and old, flock to their favorite joints to party, drink and dance the season away. Others use this opportunity to spend some quality time with their families and loved ones. Still, others simply make a lot of money out of it.

Nevertheless, in the midst of all this fanfare, it is good for us to ask ourselves an important question: ‘Why, and what for, am I celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ? Is it because I have received what He came to give me, or am I just celebrating for the fun of it? Has He found a home in my heart, or have other gods been lodging there? Do I walk with Him, or have I been determining my own path? Am I His true follower, or am I just His fan?’

Needless to say, Jesus Christ did not come so that we can have a ball and party till the break of dawn at every end of the year. He came to give us the gift of salvation. Those who have received this gift are the only ones who can truly celebrate His birth because they are the ones who have benefited from His coming. A person may eat, drink, make merry, sing Christmas carols at the top of their voice and receive and give 1001 Christmas wishes, but if they have not received the gift of salvation then in the end all that merrymaking counts for nothing. God will not welcome them into heaven just because they knew how to get their groove on and set the roof on fire with all their singing and dancing. He will welcome only those who got born again.

To understand the foolishness of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ while not saved and devoted to Him, let us take the example of a sick person who is suffering from a fatal but curable disease. A doctor brings him some medicine but instead of taking it, the sick person simply rejoices that the medicine is there and thanks the doctor for bringing it. As he continues to rejoice, the disease gets the better of him and he dies from it. If he had taken the medicine he would have lived, but since he rejected it, all his celebration is worthless. It cannot save him from his disease and it will not bring him back from the dead. The same is true about our Christmas celebrations. When the party is over and God calls each one of us to account for our time and actions on earth, it will be of no use for us to have celebrated with all our might yet end up being rejected by Him and told off as none of His (see Matthew 7:21-23), because we did not repent and become saved. The Bible says that Jesus Christ came to save us from sinfulness (see Luke 19:10, Luke 5:32 and Titus 2:11-14).

In Luke 13:26-27, Jesus talked about people who will tell Him of how they ate and drank with Him but it will be of no use. He will reject them even though they brushed shoulders with Him. How much less impressive will mere merrymaking in His name be? As the festive spirit fills the air, here are some verses to meditate on:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” – John 3:3

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Life is Not Short

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Our life in this world is just the beginning of our existence. It is like a grain of sand on the shores of eternity or a drop of water in the ocean of time. It is simply the first page of a very long story. When we are born, the story begins; when we die, the story continues in another realm.

Since eternity will last forever and our time here acts as the foundation of where we will go to spend it, we cannot afford to live recklessly. We must do some maths and get our priorities right so that our time and efforts on earth do not eventually boil down to nothing. There is nothing as sad as coming to the realization that you have wasted valuable time, energy and resources in something that has produced only wind.

When we are young, our parents do not let us just grow up aimlessly without thinking about our future. They take us to school and give us advice so that when we become adults we can live a prosperous and respectable life. When we get employed or start a business, if we are wise, we do not just squander the money haphazardly and leave nothing for the days ahead. We invest what we have so that when a rainy day comes, we will have something to keep us going.

In the same way, our time here on earth is a time to invest in our future. It is the time to use what we have for our eternal good. It is not the time to senselessly dive into all manner of crude, short-lived and unproductive activities that will eventually amount to nothing more than a chasing after the wind. It is the time to plough into everlasting soils that will give us an eternal harvest.

Jesus Christ told His disciples to “Store up for [themselves] treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). He was telling them to be wise with their time and resources on earth and use them to secure an eternal inheritance for themselves.

Just as there are bank accounts here on earth, so are there spiritual accounts. These accounts are not stocked with physical currency such as bank notes and coins. They are stocked with such characteristics as righteousness, holiness, goodness, humility, self-control, love, joy, peace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, repentance, and so on (see Galatians 5:22-24 and Matthew 5:3-12 for more).

When all is said and done and our time on earth expires, it is the spiritual aspects of our being and of our actions that will matter. The amount of food we ate will not count. The shape and size of our bodies will not matter. The zeal with which we partied will not help us. What our friends thought of us will not be a concern. The titles that men bestowed upon us will be of no consequence. 

God will judge us based on whether or not we did what He expected of us, if at all we bothered to find out what it was. He will look at what our values, motives and interests were, and whether or not we honored Him in all that we did. He will not consult our friends, family or foes about us, but will bring out the deep secrets of our hearts and minds and reward us accordingly (see Jeremiah 17:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Most importantly, He will look at the divine condition of our souls. Did we repent of our sins and accept the forgiveness that is only obtained through Jesus’ blood? (see Hebrews 9:22). Did we receive the Holy Spirit to make us God’s sons? (see Romans 8:14-17). Did we walk in holiness after receiving His forgiveness and mercy? (see Hebrews 10:26-31).

Jesus told His disciples that “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Image from hypedot.com

Our souls are the most precious aspect of our being. They are our real selves, the part of us that will remain when our bodies have perished. They will last forever, whether or not we make it to heaven or to hell. They will bear the full impact of our actions here on earth. If we neglect them, we are essentially neglecting ourselves. They should therefore be our first priority when it comes to the choices that we make and the things that we do. Focusing on other things at the expense of our souls is loving those other things more than ourselves and therefore hating ourselves.

We therefore need to be wise and see beyond the momentary passions and lures of this world, because spending one hundred and something years on earth will be of no value if we end up spending the rest of the billions of years of our existence languishing in eternal pain and torment (see Matthew 25:46 and Mark 9:43-44). 

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” – Matthew 13:40-43

The Forbidden Fruit

It is said that we are what we eat. When we eat what is healthy, we become healthy; when we eat what is unhealthy, we become unhealthy. This principle applies to everything that we consume. When we see, hear, touch, read or do anything, it affects us in some way. Some of it affects us positively, and some of it affects us negatively. For example, if we touch a live wire, we are bound to get an electric shock. On the other hand, if we touch a friendly dog, we are bound to get an affectionate lick or tail wag.

There are also things that have two sides to them. They can either be harmful or helpful, depending on how we use them. One example of this is a knife. It can be used to prepare vegetables for a meal, and it can also be used to stab someone to death. It all depends on what the person having it chooses to do with it. If he chooses to use it for the wrong purpose, that is his own responsibility. He should not blame those who manufactured the knife for his wrongdoing. Knives were designed to be used for cutting food, and that is what they are made for to this day. Many people have used them to stab, maim and wound others, but that has not stopped knives from being manufactured. They will continue to be made and sold to people everywhere, not so that they can be used as weapons of destruction, but so that they can be used for what they were rightly designed for: to cut and prepare food.

On that same note, when God created the heavens and the earth, He did so for a good reason. He made everything so that it would be used for the right purpose. When He put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He told them that they were free to eat fruit from all the other trees in the garden, but they were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Of course, there was a good reason why that tree was there in the first place, but all the same, it was not meant for food. Furthermore, God told them why they were not supposed to eat from it. The fruit of that tree was lethal, and it would bring death to them and their descendants. However, Adam and Eve did not keep God’s command, and they reaped the fruits of their rebellion.

Similarly, this world is full of many things that have a unique purpose. Since God is the one who made them, He is the one who knows how they should be used. When a manufacturer manufactures something, he is the one who can tell people how best it works. He usually gives instructions that those who buy the product are supposed to follow. If they follow the instructions, the device works well and they get the best out of it; on the other hand, if they defy the instructions, they end up bringing disaster upon themselves. 
As the manufacturer of the universe, God has given us instructions in the form of commands about what we should and should not do. All these commands are there for our own good. If we follow them, we prosper and experience the abundant life that God planned for us; however, if we rebel, our lives become full of misery, heartache and woe.

One of the commands that God gave us is the command to observe sexual purity. We should not commit adultery, fornication (i.e. sex before marriage), or any other form of sexual immorality. God designed sex to be for married people, and it should not be used for any other purpose. However, in our rebellion, we have misused it and sleep around with whomever we see fit. The result of this has been “unwanted” pregnancies, abortions, heartbreaks, sexually transmitted diseases, single parenthood, broken marriages, sexual obsessions, and so on. If we would keep God’s command, none of this would happen. However, due to our rebellion, sex has become a greatly demeaned and tarnished act.

It so happens that when we sin and break God’s commands, we think that we are helping ourselves and are being wise. Eve was misled into believing that the forbidden fruit was good for her. When she looked at it, she liked its appearance and was fascinated by the thought of how wise it would make her and her husband become. As a result, she turned a blind eye to God’s warning and sank her teeth into its venomous pulp.

In the same way, we tend to judge sins by their neatly packaged and seemingly attractive cover. We allow the seductive look, feel, sound and smell of something sinful to lead us into believing that it is not as bad as God says it is. We then proceed to hungrily gobble it down, only to face the bitter aftertaste of its true ingredients.

The Bible says that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin causes not only physical death, but also spiritual, social, emotional and psychological death. It affects us, other people, and our relationship with God. When God tells us not to do something, it is because He knows that no matter how appropriate it seems to us, it will always have some negative effect. He therefore warns us about it and points us in the right direction so that we can avoid its pitfalls and have a truly fulfilled life. As the Bible says, "Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner" (Proverbs 13:6). Therefore, when we obey God we do ourselves a favor, but when we disobey Him we do ourselves a disservice and invite ruin upon ourselves here on earth and in the life to come.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23