Setting off fireworks in your life …

Say “Fourth of July” and what do you think of?

Fireworks!

Okay, it is the day Americans celebrate the independence of our nation, but how we go about doing it is what so many get excited about.

On July 4, barbeques will be blazing, flags will be flying, bands will be marching, boats will be buzzing across lakes, sunblock will be poured by the gallon, and to end it all with a bang — literally — will be the fireworks.

To prepare for the holiday, many people have made stops at roadside fireworks stands. But here’s something interesting: in many places, it is legal to buy fireworks, but illegal to shoot them off.

Now there’s a situation just waiting to explode! Again … literally!

Why would anyone buy fireworks if they aren’t allowed to ignite them?

In a similar way, we can also ask why do we refuse to give up sources of sin in our lives? Why do we keep the same influences? Why do we hide and harbor means of old temptations?

Because even though we aren’t supposed to light the fire crackers, we do so anyway; and even though we are supposed to repent of our sins, we supply ourselves with the means to keep sin going in our lives.

Most people can’t honestly say when they purchase the fireworks they will abide by the law (in some areas) and not set them off. You know you will, that’s why you bought them! And most people can’t honestly say when they keep all the old sources of their sin in their lives that they won’t return to it. You know you will, that’s why you’ve kept such things in your life!

What to do?

The Apostle Paul writes, “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God,” 2 Corinthians 7:1.

Isn’t it time to clear out what we’ve stored away from the old life, and “… work toward complete holiness because we fear God”?

Scotty