Christian Living

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January 24, 2012 – Compromising Situations

10 Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he answered, Here am I, Lord. – Acts 9:10 AMP

Ananias was a follower of Jesus living in the city of Damascus. Jesus appeared to him in a vision with some specific instructions. He was to go to Saul and pray for him so he could receive his sight again. Initially Ananias resisted. Jesus, in case you didn’t know, this is Saul. He’s coming up here to take us all to prison. Surely you have heard about this guy. Jesus responded, yes, I know him. But his life is about to be changed forever. Now go. The entire story of this episode of Ananias’ life is documented in Acts Chapter Nine. He did exactly what God told him to do. Sadly, Christians today put themselves into situations just like Ananias, only God didn’t tell them to do anything.

There are some Christians who are out to prove their faith to their fellow believers. These guys will do just about anything to show off their faith. Some befriend unsaved people. Such behavior is godly. Trying to reach the lost is something we should all do, right? Sure it is. But this specific group I’m talking about throws themselves into the middle of the sea of world without a life preserver. They don’t try to merely live out a godly example for their unsaved friends. Instead they go to the same worldly places they went before they were saved. They do the same things they used to do. They are walking a tightrope without a safety net.

Paul says that evil corrupts good behavior (1 Corinthians 15:33). Christians should always be on their guard against wickedness (2 Peter 3:17). You should even be on your guard at church. In this day and age churches are marketing themselves to the masses in order to be relevant to people. But Christians are called to be set apart from society (Romans 12:2).

Marlo recently brought a news story to my attention. A church in the state of Michigan opened a tattoo parlor in their church. That’s right, a tattoo parlor. First of all, God forbade the Israelites from even getting a tattoo (Leviticus 19:28). Now I have never set foot in a tattoo parlor, but I have driven by many in my life. And I have never set foot in a church with one. But I can tell you this about them. From the outside they look like havens for witchcraft and the occult. Save your time and money; stay out of these places and stay on your guard.

Ananias was on his guard. He even argued with Jesus about Saul. But Jesus told him to go so he went. Because he followed God his situation was not compromising. Saul in turn became known as Paul and became Christianity’s first international missionary. The story of Ananias is living proof that when we follow God, we don’t need to prove anything about our faith. He will work through us to accomplish His every plan.

What about you? Are you one of those Christians trying to prove your faith is stronger than anyone else’s? Are you following God every step of the way or are you blazing a trail ahead of Him? Our faith should never be driven to make things happen for Him. When we do that we move on our terms and not God’s terms. Making things happen by our own desire will most of the time end in failure.

Now on the opposite side don’t think that I’m saying that all Christians should live in concrete bunkers to keep themselves protected from an evil world. We are part of the world, but we have to choose to not love the things of it. We have to stand against anything that would shake our faith. We have to stay on our guard. But we must also be ready like Ananias. When God speaks, we have to be ready to listen and say here am I, Lord.

Do you put yourself into compromising situations that challenge your faith? Do you do it under the pretense of witnessing to others or because God sent you? Do you find that in these situations you are being led further away from God? Stop and listen to God. Follow His instructions. Guard your faith. Only then will the compromise cease and you can boldly say here am I, Lord.

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