Living in the *?

What's the going rate for your integrity? Sounds like an absurd question, yet unfortunately one that needs to be addressed. Friends, there is nothing more valuable than our good name. Nothing worse than a "believer" who winks and nods and lives in the grey area of compromise. There are times we all face the temptation to use the word "just" or "only" as we contemplate a compromise! You know, "it's just a little of this..." or "it's just once in a while " or "I only do it when..." it's only a little white lie.". Let's be clear about this, compromise is good in marriage, compromise can be good in negotiations, and even in conflict resolution. However, there is no place for compromise when it comes to following Christ! Matthew 12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. We should be sold out for Jesus! I can tell you unequivocally that I want to be hot for Christ, on fire! .. I want spiritual sparks flying off me everywhere I go, so the holy fire of God spreads like a wild fire! Yet, regretfully many saints of God are walking in defeat, head held low, shackled in chains of shame! They are not on fire for God at all! This grieves God and I know first hand. Why? They are living the way I did for years and years. How? Lukewarm! They have compartmentalized their "faith" into a relegated place in their life. They value it and believe it, yet don't live it. It stays hidden deep in the back corner of their mind and comes to life on Sundays or Easter. Therefore it is powerless. They spend their life pursuing what they hope is the right path and try and live a good life, without ever fully giving God control and asking Jesus Christ to be Lord of their life. As a result, they have little power to resist temptations, they don't have God's Word in their heart so they wander in the darkness of compromise. They buy the lie the world offers for happiness and find themselves empty and broken in despair! Friends, no matter where you have been or what you have done you can clean the slate tonight by confessing your sins and rededicating your life to Jesus Christ! Imagine this for a moment God would rather you be cold as Ice than a lukewarm, powerless child shackled in shame! Revelations 3:16, So because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth! Before I close tonight, please don't get me wrong here, this isn't about religion or rules or even dogma. This is squarely about Lordship. When I finally made Jesus Christ the Lord of my life is when the shackles were broken! Can I just say we need to stop excusing our own inexcusable behavior, and choose this day whom we shall serve? In closing, have you ever seen an advertisement that has a "too good to be true "discount or offer and right next to it is an asterisk? Then in the fine print footnote we read the rules and conditions ! Another words, it isn't what it really appears to be is it? For years I said I was a believer and said I was a follower of Christ... I really should of put an asterisk next to my profession of faith though. It would of read " on Sundays from 11am-12:30 pm, void all other times." No more asterisks * for me! What sbout you? Thank you Jesus! And thank you for letting me share! Randy Young