Today’s blog post brought to you by Ian Coates of FreeChristianIllustrations.com
God gives us many freedoms to pursue pleasure and happiness. But we must consider as we pursue these things, when do we cross the line?
When playing sport, we are free to move anywhere as long as the ball is kept within the boundaries. However, when the ball goes over the boundary line it is no longer in play and a whistle is blown. Thus no goal can be scored from out-of-bounds.
God has given us freedom to pursue many pleasures. As long as we keep within the boundary lines, these pleasures will continue to bring enjoyment and be beneficial. If we cross the line, God blows the whistle of repercussions.
Sex was designed to be pleasurable within the boundaries of marriage. A glass of wine can be both enjoyable and have health benefits but we are out-of-bounds if we are drunk. Sport, social life, travel, shopping and learning are all legitimate pleasures – a gift from God for us to enjoy; however, when any of these pleasures become an obsession and more important than our pursuit of God, we have crossed the boundary line; then God is forced to blow His ‘whistle of repercussions’. It may take the form of a nasty hangover, a venereal disease, bankruptcy, a breakup or even a breakdown. When we hear the warning whistle, we must quickly bring the ball back to the field (get our life back in fellowship) before our foolish actions take us completely out of the game. (Ecc. 7:17)
In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. Proverbs 22:5NIV
