Ruined to Sin

Mark 10:46-52

Psalm 19:13

In Mark 10, there is a story of a blind man.  He knew Jesus was passing by which means he knew he had a window of opportunity. He cried out to Jesus ”Have mercy on me!”  Everyone was telling him to “be quiet” and ”hush!”  ”Don’t bother Jesus!”  But, Jesus heard his cry!  Jesus said “come!”  Then everyone changed their tune, they said “cheer up, He’s calling you”  Then, Jesus did something I used to think was kind of strange, he said ”what do you want?”  WHAT?!?!  The guys is blind!  YOU, Jesus, of ALL people know he wants to SEE!  Especially since he’s heard that you‘ve done it for other people!

Why in the world do you think Jesus asked the question when he knew the answer?

I think He did it because he wanted the blind man to really think for one last moment what the consequences would be when he received his sight.  You may think “consequences?????”  Yes, consequences.  That blind man had to have become “comfortable” in the darkness.  He was probably used to counting steps to get to places and running through his familiar daily routines.  Things were about to change for him…Big Time!  Then, after careful contemplation, he made up his mind.  He said ”I want to SEE!”  Then, Jesus gave him his wish.  That blind man opened his eyes and saw for the very first time in his life!  He was no longer bound by the darkness.

Many, many, many, many…maybe MOST people that call themselves “Christians” are bound by the darkness.  Most people have their daily and weekly  “routines” that they like to follow, much like the blind man, but they never draw us closer to Him and they never point anyone else toward Him!  We never break free into a life in which we “see” God working in our lives!  We also never “see” sin for the absolute vile, wicked thing that it really is.  Sin just becomes…not that big of a deal.

What if Jesus were to ask us the same question?  “What is it you want me to do for you?”  What if you said “I want to see as you see!”  Now that, my friend,  is a dangerous answer.  You can’t pray that without things changing!  Just like when you go see a 1:00 p.m. movie and you get comfortable in the dark, then you walk outside…WHOA…your eyes are going to have to do some adjusting!

All of a sudden, you must tell others about Him!  What if we all get to watch at the Great White Throne Judgment and you see a friend or relative standing there before Jesus.  You see Jesus tell them “depart from me, I never knew you!”  They look at you and say “you KNEW about this?  Why in the World  didn’t you TELL ME!?”  How would that make you feel?  You need to “see” that now, for only now can something be done about it!

All of a sudden, you must live right!  You don’t have time to waste doing things you know are wrong!  You must drink in His Word and Pray and have as much of His presence in your life as possible because it’s like water…you just have to have it!

All of a sudden, you are ruined to sin.  What I mean is, others may be able to get high on drugs and see pink elephants and stars and all sorts of other crazy things that are just “funny!”  But, since your eyes are opened, if you do it, you “see” Jesus coming back and you see yourself being left behind and you find that you just have to find an altar and kneel and BEG His forgiveness so you can be made CLEAN and WHOLE once more!

Today, tell God you want to SEE!  Tell Him you want to be CLEAN!  Tell Him there is nothing more important than being right with Him!  Ask Him to RUIN YOU TO SIN that you may be found blameless on the day of His coming!

Listen…I know I sound all crazy and hardcore!  Reading back over this…even I think I’m a little bit crazy!  But, I’m telling you…I can’t imagine life any other way!  I’m not better than anybody.  But, I am better OFF than most because I have experienced the benefits of following Him!

I just don’t think anybody reading this has the time that I had to be complacent.  I Thank God that He was so patient with me and gave me years to drag my feet and not take Him and His Word seriously.

Nobody has that luxury anymore.  He’s coming…and He’s coming SOON!

Are you ready?

Later