Kick the Habit -- No more Insanity!

 

The last couple of weeks have been a little "wonky." Ok, I have never used that term before, but it seems to fit nicely. Stephanie and I took a short trip to Florida. When we got back, the weather through a monkey wrench into our normal routine. Before that, we were deeply involved in Stephanie's cancer treatment. Life has been anything BUT routine! As we start out this week, I am really hoping we can get into a routine. Isn't it interesting how most people seem to fight the mundane and boredom but also love to find a comfortable routine? 

For the next couple of days, I am taking a brief excursion through the book of Micah. If you look at this short book you see a pattern of judgment followed by hope, judgment then hope, rinse and repeat!

What's the definition of insanity? It was Albert Einstein who said,

            "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!" 

The Old Testament is filled with stories where God's people followed him, fell away, came back, fell away, came back, fell away -- you get the picture. The world cannot break its routine of sin without the help of God. We are so comfortable sinning. We get into a habit, doing the same old thing over and over again and we wonder why things don't get better. We wonder why there is so much pain and suffering around us. Yet, we refuse to change. We sin over and over again and expect God to bless us! THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY!

We become comfortable sinning. It becomes a habit. I am declaring it is time for us to "kick the habit." God understands our struggle breaking the grip of sin in our lives and he does everything to help us kick the habit. Here is what he told Israel and Judah back in Micah's day:

"Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear. The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his Holy Temple. Look! The Lord is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth. The mountains melt beneath his feet and flow into the valleys like wax in a fire, like water pouring down a hill." (Micah 1:1-4)

God came down to earth to shake things up. It had never happened before and hasn't happened since. (Although, it WILL happen again!) He broke up the mundane routine to help us overcome THE SIN HABIT! 

When Jesus came down to earth a cosmic shift occurred. The routine of life would never be the same. We no longer have to be a slave to sin. 

"Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin." (Romans 6:5,6)

"Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God." (Romans 6:12,13)

COME ON PEOPLE! Robin Williams was right! If we want life to remain as it was, there will be no "IS." Life will cease without turning from our sinful routine. Break the grip of sin, kick the habit, and build a new routine. You cannot break the habit of sin without the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, filling you with the Holy Spirit! Routinely go to the Lord, seek his face, call upon his name and your life will change! CHANGE IS GOOD! START TODAY!