Gates of the City

The other night I was busy working on some studies and took a break to check a few other things, email, read the latest news online and then decided to dropped by my Facebook page real quick. I really don’t use it too much; it is more of just a way to stay in casual touch with a few friends and my sons . . .  and also to shamelessly promote Gates of the City. While I was there I saw that one of my friends I met via my sons had a post that looked like a typical nonsensical YouTube link.

Now, I love this young friend and speak frequently with them, sometimes with private messages over personal things trying to encourage them. I am thankful the Lord has placed quite a fondness in my heart for this individual and therefore I usually pay attention to their status and posts. But this time the post seemed a bit odd for them, the title actually seemed to indicate mischief on the part of whoever made the link. However, since this was my young  friend, I figured I would click it to see why they posted it. All it did was change the page a bit as the picture of the link got a little bigger as YouTube links normally do, but that was it. Apparently it wasn’t a video, or if it was it certainly didn’t work. So I just clicked back, read down my FB page real quick and went back to working on other stuff.

Within minutes of going back to work I get a YIM from my friend Rhonda who shares this blog with telling me I may have a virus on my FB page. Naturally I am a bit surprise and ask her what she means, to which she asks me if I clicked “like” on a link called such and such. Now, upon re-reading the title with it removed from my other friend’s name next to it, it now appears a great deal more mischievous than before, provoking an embarrassment as now on my FB page  it reads that “William Males ‘likes’ this link.” I asked Rhonda why people create these things, what is the purpose, what are they gaining? She simply said something about it’s a type of cyber graffiti, just getting their handiwork across the web on as many “walls” as possible, because there is some sort of a ping back where they keep score I guess. I am so thankful God has given me such higher goals to press forward to.

However, being computer savvy enough to create a good impression of being capable, yet still ignorant to all the aspects web life and warfare, I asked how to eliminate this distasteful thing from my wall and name since it doesn’t respond to my feeble efforts to delete it. Rhonda patiently explained the process where I had to change the password in order to delete it. Well, it’s gone, but the whole experience really troubled me on a few levels.

Right afterwards I go to eat dinner with my wife who asks me several times what’s the matter because I wasn’t completely there. This whole event was there on my mind dominating my thoughts and was thinking about a couple of verses –

Nu 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Mr 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

I shared with my wife the whole event, how this cursed thing had been on FB which I thought my friend posted and so I clicked on it, but admittedly I could see it was not something that was going to edifying. But having other family members and friends who also post several things that easily fall into a benign and silly category I explained to my wife how I fell for the trap and was tagged as liking this nonsense. It left me wondering how many other areas of my life have I carelessly not avoided the appearance of evil? I was left considering the stain of sin and how there is nothing anyone can do to remove it from their life or name. No changing of name, passwords or clothes, no amount of explaining or justifying one’s action can take away a sin once committed. There was not an eleventh commandment given stating that if you break any of these first ten, then just do this and it’ll be alright.

I had failed to be diligent, watchful, foreseeing evil and avoiding it. Just because my friends and family may permit themselves to indulge in areas of folly doesn’t make it harmless for me to curiously look into their activities. I should have guarded my eyes and heart better, been more jealous for righteousness, much more now that I truly see the day of the Lord approaching. Not in some self-righteous way, but rather in a perfecting holiness in the fear of God way, keeping my garments white and undefiled in the way of His righteousness.

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Re 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

We constantly need to be watchful for the subtlety of sin as it is ever looking for an opportunity to get its foot in the door of our heart. Whatever we do, it is with instruction of God’s holy word to be for His glory and namesake.

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

I thank God for my Lord Jesus Christ who has washed me in His blood removing the stains of both my past blatant sins and the careless ones that still grieve His Spirit within me. I acknowledge the wisdom of His word and with great jealousy for His presence I pray daily that He directs my steps and allow me to stay in constant communion with Him. I do not take it lightly that He has given me His name, clothed me with His righteousness and anointed me with His presence. He is my life, my exceeding great reward, my pearl of great price and my inheritance that fades not away.

Ec 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Take heed what your eyes behold and where you allow your curiosity to lead you.