Slow Drift

During my teen years, I began drifting into compulsive and addictive behavior to try to drown out the pain in my life. That drift eventually led to alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and sexual addiction. None of it happened overnight. It was a slow decline. One compromise, one bad decision, one sinful choice at a time.

Then Jesus Christ stepped into my life and changed everything. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God rescued me, redeemed me, and began transforming me from the inside out. Praise the Lord!

Over the years as a pastor, sitting across from people week after week in my office for counseling, I noticed the same pattern repeating itself in others that had happened in my life. Sin took hold and over time it started to erode marriages, relationships, families, churches, Christian institutions, you name it.

It's a slow drift.

Sin creeps in. Conviction gets ignored. Compromise gets justified. Small things get excused. And eventually the damage becomes visible for everyone to see.

That is exactly why the Bible warns us in Galatians 5:9 “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”  In other words, a little compromise affects everything if it is left unchecked. A little hidden sin. A little dishonesty. A little lowering of standards. A little lack of accountability. A little pride. A little worldliness. It all adds up overtime.

I have watched sin destroy homes; ministries lose credibility, churches and Christian institutions slowly drift from biblical truth one compromise at a time. There should be a warning label on sin: Even a little destroys.

The so what of this is not to condemn, but a warning out of love, experience and the truth of God's Word. Because the same Gospel that warns us about sin also offers grace, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration through Jesus Christ.