GET OFF OF THAT FENCE

A HALF BUILT HOUSE IS EXACTLY THAT.........A HALF BUILT HOUSE.  UNDERCOOKED RICE DESTROYS A GOOD MEAL.  READING THREE QUARTERS OF A BOOK IS A WASTE OF TIME.  A BOX OF CEREAL IS USELESS WITHOUT MILK.  IF I WANT TO EAT SPAGHETTI, I MIGHT NEED A FORK.  A CAR WITH NO WHEELS SERVES NO PURPOSE.  A CAKE WITHOUT ICING LOSES ALL APPEAL....AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.  CERTAIN THINGS IN LIFE GO HAND IN HAND.  THE SAME IS TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING A GODLY LIFESTYLE.  WORDS AND ACTIONS GO HAND IN HAND. 

ONCE AGAIN, I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.  FOR QUITE SOME TIME, I CLAIMED TO LOVE THE LORD.  I WENT TO CHURCH.......WHEN I FELT LIKE IT.  I PRAYED.....WHEN I WAS IN TROUBLE.  I THANKED GOD.......WHEN HE DID WHAT I WANTED HIM TO DO.  BUT...............MOST OF THE TIME, GOD JUST WASNT IN THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND.  I LIVED WITHOUT GODLY DIRECTION.  I CLAIMED TO LOVE GOD, BUT I SEE NOW THAT I DIDNT REALLY MEAN IT.  I LOVED HIM WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT.  I STRADDLED BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE.  I LOVED THE WORLD AND ALL THAT IT REPRESENTED.....MY PARENTS OFTEN TOLD ME THAT I WAS A SUCKER FOR PUNISHMENT!  LOOKING BACK NOW, I SEE THAT I TRULY WAS.  MATTHEW 6:24 TELLS US THAT "NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS; FOR HE WILL EITHER HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL BE LOYAL TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER.  YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MAN."  I ACTED LIKE BITTER WATER AND SWEET WATER COULD COME FROM THE SAME ROCK!!!  I HAD TO GET OFF OF THAT FENCE!!!!!!!!!

I KNOW TODAY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE THE LORD AND TO LOVE A LIFE OF SIN AT THE SAME TIME.  IT SIMPLY CANNOT BE DONE.  IF I AM GONNA LIVE FOR GOD, I AM GONNA LIVE FOR GOD!  IN CHURCH, OUT OF CHURCH, IN SEASON, OUT OF SEASON (2 TIMOTHY 4:2).  WHEN WE DECIDE TO FOLLOW THE LORD, WE DO NOT TAKE ON A PART-TIME RESPONSIBILITY.  OUR ACTIONS EITHER ENCOURAGE OR TURN AWAY OTHERS WHO MIGHT HAPPEN TO BE STRADDLING THE SAME FENCE THAT I ONCE USE AS A BALANCING BEAM!  WE MUST MAKE IT OUR BUSINESS TO BE SEEN AS A BEACON OF GOD'S LOVE.  WE CANNOT BE SEEN AS DOUBLE-MINDED (JAMES 1:8)  AND WE MUST MAKE IT OUR BUSINESS TO NEVER BECOME LUKEWARM (REV 3:16).  LIVING FOR GOD IS A PRIVLEGE, A WONDERFUL WAY OF LIFE!  LORD, LET ME SHOW OTHERS THEY WAY TO A LIFE OF JOY UNSPEAKABLE! 
LUKE 9:23  THEN HE SAID TO THEM ALL, " IF ANYONE DESIRES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, AND FOLLOW ME"