Most of us have electronic devices that are practically an extension of our arms. But do you ever take a moment other “extensions”? Think about that 24-hour news network that you stay glued to? (guilty here) Or, that desperate need to see the new movie that just came out? What about that new guy or girl in your life that you must talk to and hang around every moment of everyday? What do they all have in common?
They are distractions.
Done in moderation all of them could be a healthy and helpful part of your life. But here is another distraction that may not be so obvious.
Natural disasters
War
Riots
Politics
Religion
Racism
Sexism
Gender Inequality
Discrimination
All are distractions. These are just a few examples. Anything that takes your attention from God, is a dangerous distraction. As entertainingly insane as our current political situation is right now, I have wasted precious time ranting on Facebook about it when I should have used that stage to share the gospel or at least a scripture, a testimony. Distractions.
Take the riots and murders that happened just over the weekend in Virginia. Some of the people participating are lost in the past. They can’t let it go. Others are focused on a piece of stone offending them. All have fallen victim to the biggest deception. Picture Satan watching and laughing, claiming his prize of new souls. Why? Because these people have one thing in common for sure. They are all distracted. None of them are focused on Christ. None of them are interested in sharing the gospel. The love of Jesus is so far removed from this and so many other world events.
And we forget. We get lost in political and religious debates online and in person. Our emotions get the best of us because we allow the faulty flesh to replace our hearts. And our hearts should be filled and focused on the love of Christ and sharing that love with others.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:1-2
How wonderful would it have been if the group of white nationalists and the counter-protestors had just realized that none of the chaos they were creating even mattered. How beautiful would it have been if they instead decided to sit down in the same streets they were tearing up and just prayed?
I know. But a girl can dream, right?
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
These things are distractions. They are keeping us away from Christ and away from our privilege to love and our duty to share to sweet gospel that Christ died and was resurrected to atone for our sins. We just believe.
That’s not hard to share, right?
Don’t let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord.
–Unknown
