One Too Many

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #131u Re-Written 24JAN09 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

Save Me Today—Part Twenty-One: One Too Many

by rev dave c

In “Tithing The Devil” I talk about my 25 year old addiction to nicotine and Christ’s great mercy in healing me not once, but twice, within approximately 12 years. In that paper I also describe God’s response to my four year old son’s prayers as the Holy Spirit began to wake me at 3:00 in the morning to speak to me about the slow, expensive suicide I was committing through the use of tobacco. One of those “talks” involved the question, “Which cigarette is going to be the one too many?” “Which one is going to be THE cigarette that pushes you over the edge of terminal disease?” “Before that cigarette, you do not have cancer or emphysema...after it, My patience and restraint has expired and the die is cast.” Friends, that cigarette is not obvious—it looks just like the thousands of others that appear and disappear in packs and cartons of addictive, lethal smoke. It is not colored red or black, and it is not clearly marked, “This is the one that’s going to kill you. Come this far, but go no further.” If we are Christian, if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it is God, Himself, who will provide us the warning.

Obviously, this “one too many” issue applies to all manner and form of not living within the commands of God and the laws of man. Which one is the one too many beers? ...Or hits? ...Or sexual encounters? ...Or lies? ...Or astrological readings? ...Or thefts? ...Or bad checks. ...Or “dirty pictures”? ...Or reckless driving? ...Or episodes of rage? ...Or pulls of the handle? ...Or any number of other disobedient, immoral, and sinful activities? We may not be aware of it as we meet and exceed it, but that we have gone too far (that we have passed the point of no return) will inevitably make itself known—whether immediately, or in 10 years, or in the next life. In James 1:13-15 we read, When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (NIV). Sin grows and becomes “full-grown” as we practice it—as we test God with our willful impudence—until that moment, that occasion, when we have exceeded God’s patience; when He turns us over to a hardened heart (He 3:7-19); when our sin gives birth to death.

We see this idea of “one too many” reflected in story after story from throughout the Bible as people tested God’s gracious nature, not just as individuals, but as entire nations. In the account of Father Abraham’s first meeting with God, we are given an example of a people slated for destruction. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure" (Ge 15:16; NIV). There was that one sin too many that was yet to be committed in the heart, head, and hands of a particular Amorite that would be added to the pile of iniquities already committed before God would say, “Enough!,” and depose their nation by bringing the Israelites “home” to the promised land.

But what can we do? What can I do? Paul tells us, ...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro 3:23; NIV), and in First John 1:8 we read, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But John continues in verse 9, ...If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (NIV). My sin adds to the accumulated sin of my community, of my nation, and of the world. The issue is not whether or no we sin and so add to the weight that tips the scales against us—the issue is whether or not we have sought forgiveness for, and repentance from, those sins and so have had the weight of judgment against our wrong thoughts and actions altogether removed. King David acknowledges this great truth in Psalm 32:1&2: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit (NIV). Similarly, David cries out in Psalm 51, Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge (NIV).

Jesus exhorts us in Matthew 18:3-7, ..."I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! (NIV). Scripture repeatedly shows us that the accountability of a nation resides in the actions of its individual citizens. I have to ask, “Oh, Lord, what young person whom we, as a culture, are right now encouraging to be promiscuous is the one lost youth too many?” And, “ Father God, who will be that abortionist who murders the one too many ‘child of a child’ and so finally tips the scales of Your righteous judgment against this nation?” “How many future generations will suffer the cup of Your wrath because the sin of this generation has reached its full measure?”

[MacUser]

Enjoyed the read. Thanks Dave.