Dissipation,Drunkenness and Anxieties of Life.
Introduction
Luke 21:34-36 (New International Version)
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Carelessness towards Christformation in us will result in us caught in a disastrous trap.On that day, we will find ourselves so entangled in the things of this world that we would not be able to set ourselves free or escape from the coming testings of our faith that will be so severe.We will just admit defeat to the Devil and not be able to stand before Jesus Christ our Lord who is the Son of Man, at His second coming.
When we have ceased to be alert of the wiles of the Enemy and have become deliberately careless with our faith and Christformation in us, our hearts will become weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and be filled with the anxieties of life instead. We can escape this trap if we watch and pray always. To 'Watch' means to know where the enemy is attacking from and when to expect it.If we pray fervently to the Lord He will reveal these things we don't know for our own safety and the safety of others around us from the attacks of the Enemy.
Dissipation
The dictionary meaning of the word 'dissipation' is wasteful consumption or expenditure,dissolute indulgence in pleasure,amusement and diversion.It's a form of unrestrained pursuit of pleasure,wasting and squander,scatter or dispel.Things that go vanishing by dispersion.
It also means, to indulge excessively in the pursuit of pleasure and debauchery.
This sin has caught up with many today knowingly or even unknowingly.
The only reason I see why would one do this with his or other's hard earned income would be to release himself or herself from the guilt that is attached to all forms of sinning which has not been dealt with through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.We had been careless with our walk with the Lord.
The warning of the Lord goes this way:
1 Peter 4:3-5 (New International Version)
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
If you had fallen into this first trap,there is still time for you to come out of this now. The way out is repentance, meaning 'turn away from this and never return to it ever'.Turn to Jesus Christ our Lord for Christformation to fill your born again spirit,if you know you are born again in your spirit.
Drunkenness
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (New International Version)
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
We know if we continue in these sins without repenting,we will not be able to enter the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is within us.Full-Christformation in us is the kingdom of God. If we have willfuly neglected full Christformation in us by being involved in such serious sins, then, we will never be able inherit or gain Christ in us.Christ will not be formed in us even if we attended meetings faithfully.
We must turn away from these wickedness.
Many dispute or defend that drunkenness is not a serious sin.It is,only if you realize that it will hinder or abort Christformation in you.You will not be able to escape easily out of this deadly habit. Drunkenness is Satan's solution for problems he created,for Satan or the Devil is the author of every sin.
Anxieties of Life
Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
'Anxiety' is another dangerous trap we get ourselves into.This is a trap from the devil too.Satan fills you with greed first and then gives you the anxiety if you can't achieve it. This lousy feeling comes directly from the Devil.This is why the Lord Jesus Christ specifically warned us about this trap of the Devil in the verses above.
Anxiety or worry can do much damage and hinder Christformation in us.Out of this worry or anxiety many have turned to the world and have made shipwreck of their faith.This may even kill your faith if you don't watch it.
Instead, this is what we should be doing.
Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
We should be careful about Christformation in us and not allow any of these sins above to hinder or abort full Christformation in us.These are the deadly sins of the last days that will lead us to the pathway of destruction if we indulge in them.
By Ronaldkp
