Avoidance

Avoidance is something that happens often in our life. We see the pile of dishes and keep walking. There are emails that have to be addressed but we don’t bother logging into our account. Our spouse wants to talk to us but we are just so tired. We know we should go to church but it's our only day to sleep in. I will read my Bible but maybe later today when I have more time. There is the laundry to do but maybe I'll fold them later on or tomorrow. I have to call this person back but I don’t want to get stuck on the phone.    There are a lot of things we just wish to avoid. There is something that is even more dangerous and that is spiritual avoidance. There are two groups that this falls under; the lost and the saved.

The Lost
Most people hate talking about death or even thinking about it. But death is something we know will happen. Everyone wants to put it off as something that is a long way away, yet logically it could happen at any moment. Most don’t want to face it. Most just want to enjoy their life and not worry about the end. And even though we all know it will happen, most are shocked when it does happen to someone else. Still many go on filling their life with distractions from the fact that they will die and face their maker. The bible is full of warnings of how our life is not as long as we think it is. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14) It is not good to avoid eternal life. It is not a wise move to wait till later when later may not be there. The eternal is there waiting for us but society continues to gamble with their life. Many would rather play the odds. They lived yesterday, they live today, so of course they’ll live tomorrow. And while there will be many days that they will get to wake up in the morning, there will be one where that doesn’t happen. And then what? You were not concerned about death or the state of your soul. Now the time has come where your days are done and it is too late. Don’t let this be you. Don’t avoid facing your status with God. Don’t avoid dealing with your sin before God. Repent and follow Him before it is too late. “...behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

The Saved
For those who have faced reality and sought Christ for salvation, we still rely on our flesh at times. We too tend to avoid spiritually so much in our walk with God. How many of us avoid reading the bible at times? Prayer? Service? Giving? Witnessing? Sin? The list could go on and on. We too often allow the urgent in our lives to occupy our time. While the devil may have lost our soul to God he still does his level best to make us useless for God. Don’t avoid that which is so important to our soul. Don’t avoid the commands that He gives us out of love and concern for us. Don’t waste your life here on earth. Instead use it to glorify God. Use it to produce fruit and build treasures in heaven. To borrow from Nike, Just Do It! Don’t wait. Don’t avoid. Let us not forget the warning that God’s Word gives us, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) Do you have sin that you are allowing in your life? Don’t avoid it, deal with it with the power of the Holy Spirit. Have opportunities to witness to someone? Don’t avoid the opportunity, but witness! Spread the gospel. Are you just coming to church on Sundays? Even though you know the bible says you were given a spiritual gift to use in His church? Don’t avoid it anymore, but serve! Jump in with both feet and serve your God out of love for Him. Have a choice between your bible and the TV? Don’t avoid your bible, pick it up! Read it.

Let us stop avoiding the obvious and important. Don’t allow your flesh and the devil to lead you to avoiding what God has called you to do. Do not put it off. Do not avoid what you know to be true, right and important. Just Do It!
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17