SHOCKER

SHOCKER!?

That's what I always say, in a sarcastic voice when something happens when people are surpised by something that is so obvious is going to happen.

We live in a society that is "Master of the Obvious", it's not shocking that if you play with fire, you can get burned; if you don't look when you cross the street, you could get hit by a car; if you don't study, you won't pass the test; there are countless examples in life of "natural" consequences for not making the right choices or doing the right things, yet when they happen, people are shocked? Caught off guard? Didn't see it coming?

Why is that? Stupidity? Igrnorance? Apathy? low expectations? all the above? I don't know for sure, but we should know that life has natural consequences and that when we make certain choices or decisions, things in life are going to happen, regardless of what we want or wish.

You keep giving in to temptations, you are going to fall. You keep cheating, you will eventually get caught; you keep lying, it will eventually catch up with you; you keep drinking too much and too often, you are going to have multiple issues; you hang out with the wrong people and for the wrong reasons, you are going to get hurt.

Yet, we date the loser and are "shocked" when they cheat on us or hurt us? We hang out with the wrong crowd to fit in and are "shocked" when they throw us under the bus? We don't take God serious and we are "shocked" why we struggle in our faith? We don't read our bible or pray to God and we are "shocked" we don't know God's will?

People there are natural consequences. Then there are good consequences for good choices and bad consequences for bad choices. Then there are warnings signs, warning signals, and things that show us "not to go there, or not to do that, yet we ignore them, then we are shocked when things bad happen for us.

If I get in my car and drive to New York City, I'm not going to end up in Los Angeles. As Andy Stanley says, "direction not intention, determines destination". In other words, you are going to end up in what direction you are headed.

You lie, cheat, act lazy, have a bad attitude, cheat, be dishonest, don't care, etc..whatever your attitude is is where you will end up. You do drugs, abuse alcohol, use people for sex, gamble away your money, and you're going to end up addicted, alone, desperate, isolating those you love, and could end up in rehab, the hospital, or dead.

People the warning signs are there for a reason. Don't be shocked when your decisions and choices lead you exactly to where they are supposed to. Also, don't think because you are a Christian or become a Christian that your life is going to be easy, or you're going to coast. Though becoming a Christian is the BEST choice you will ever make, becoming a Christian puts target on your back. The closer you get to God the more the devil may tempt you, persuade you, and pursue you. When the devil doesn't bother you is when I'd be concerned. It means you aren't doing anything that is a threat to Him.

Heed the warnings friends. Don't go down roads you don't want to go, they lead to sin, pain, struggle, and destruction. Don't be shocked when you choose selfishly and end up hurt. Don't be shocked either that when you strive to live for God, that Satan is right there fightin you every step of the way.

I Peter 4:12-13(NIV)12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.