Be honest: how many of you want to push that big red button that says, “Do Not Push?” Do you want to do it out of curiosity’s sake? What does it do? Or just to be rebellious? "No one can tell me what to do!" Do you ever stop to consider why someone does not want that button pushed, or are you only thinking of yourself? What if you disobeyed the sign and someone got hurt? Would you even care as long as you were not the one injured? What if someone you love would be the victim on the other end of that mysterious button? I hope that would deter you.
Now let me add a few more words: “Do Not Push Under Penalty of the Law.” Still feeling the need to satisfy your curiosity or do the prospects of a fine or jail time cause you to walk away? I know there are some out there that think the risk would be worth it. After all, what if you pushed it and whistles went off, confetti fell from the sky, and some man in a three-piece suit came running out with a check for $10,000,000? Do you really believe there is going to be a reward for breaking the rules? Maybe you will launch a rocket and you’ll get to see an exciting show. Who cares if someone gets hurt or killed? Quite frankly, the possibilities are endless, and that’s why you are just itching to push that button to see what happens.
Now let me change the words again: “Do Not Push or You Will go to Hell.” You still want to do it, don’t you? Curiosity can have a powerful influence, and rebellion is an even bigger encouragement to do not do as you are told. Maybe it is just a suggestion, and pushing a pointless button will not really send you to Hell. There really are no consequences because all you have to do is say you are sorry, and all will be forgiven, right? Or maybe some Man (Jesus) you never bothered getting to know already paid the debt for your sins so why not go ahead and do whatever you want? There really is no point in trying to figure out why the rule is there in the first place. Or any of the others. “Do not walk on the grass?” “Do not touch the wet paint?” Silliness! “Do not commit adultery? Do not lie or steal?” A bunch of archaic rules meant to make life boring!
But I am here to tell you that the rules were all put there for a reason, not to just keep you oppressed! I am not speaking of the laws of Moses, for even the apostle Paul states that the old laws bring death. I am referring to the laws of Jesus Christ. The Lord wants us to follow His rules so that we avoid Hell because He wishes that none would perish in Hell, but live with Him for all eternity, it is why He died such a brutal death on the cross. When you realize His rules are there to protect you from torment in Hell, it should make you want to follow them. They are there to protect you from hurting others as well as yourself, not restrict your fun! God is holy and cannot abide with unholy sin, therefore, we must be clean to live with Him forever.
If you really consider the rules, you can see why Jesus says not to do certain things, they all cause others pain. Now if we follow the fruits of the spirit (see below) they will bring others joy! Wouldn’t you rather be a bringer of happiness than of destruction? Therefore, think twice before pushing that button!
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25
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