A born-again Christian cannot, by definition, go back to the things he/she used to once do. If you hung out at the pub/bar once in a while with friends before you were saved, then you do not go back to the pub/bar after you have put your hand in Christ’s. If you blasted all kinds of rap music or rock music (or other music with worldly lyrics) before you decided to pick up your cross and follow Jesus, then you cannot still take pleasure in that kind of music once you are on your way with Christ.

When Jesus said you can’t serve GOD and the world, HE meant it (Luke 16:12-14). It is impossible for a Christian to follow Jesus 100% when he/she is still reading romance novels, watching and delighting in the latest rap videos and consuming all kinds of foul food, alcohol and drugs. I do not doubt that there are many Christians who believe it is OK to smoke cigarettes (some even think it’s OK to smoke marijuana, no doubt) and to have a beer or glass of wine once in a while. As Paul wrote, do you not know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:12-19)? As Christ Jesus said, shouldn’t the outside and inside of the vessel both be clean [for some of us are beaming outwardly, but inside are rotting] (Luke 11:37-54)?

Christians Who Live Compromised Lives Are In Danger of Hell, Too

In Luke 14 verses 25-33 Jesus Christ explains that for one to really be able to walk the road HE has paved for those who follow HIM, we must leave everything behind. Jesus didn’t mean that we are to literally sell everything that we have, quit our jobs, leave our families and go off on some lonely pilgrimage. What the LORD means in that passage is that we, as Christians, must walk in the Spirit and not live by the flesh, for it is the flesh that clings to this world, which is surely perishing.

When one becomes truly saved (that is, you have completely given yourself to Christ Jesus and cling to HIS Way), Jesus begins to do a new thing in that person. The new creation Jesus makes in HIS image no longer likes sin and hates the things he/she once thought were pleasurable. With new eyes, new ears and a new heart, the world now seems disgusting and sad.

A born-again Christian cannot, by definition, go back to the things he/she used to once do. If you hung out at the pub/bar once in a while with friends before you were saved, then you do not go back to the pub/bar after you have put your hand in Christ’s. If you blasted all kinds of rap music or rock music (or other music with worldly lyrics) before you decided to pick up your cross and follow Jesus, then you cannot still take pleasure in that kind of music once you are on your way with Christ.

As the LORD says in Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV):

25.And great multitudes went with HIM. And HE turned and said to them,

26.”If anyone comes to ME and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be MY disciple.

27.”And whoever does not bear his cross and come after ME cannot be MY disciple.

28. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it–

29.”lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him,

30.”saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

31.”Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32.”Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

33.”So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be MY disciple…

Born-again Christians hate the things of this world. — Ask them. They hate the foul, ignorant talk they overhear on the streets. They hate when the LORD’s name is taken in vain. They hate witnessing the glorification of sin (found in TV programs, movies, etc.). And it cuts them to the core when they know that someone has died without having confessed Jesus Christ as LORD. — Ask them.

When Jesus said you can’t serve GOD and the world, HE meant it (Luke 16:12-14). It is impossible for a Christian to follow Jesus 100% when he/she is still reading romance novels, watching and delighting in the latest rap videos and consuming all kinds of foul food, alcohol and drugs. These things of the flesh are waring against the Spirit. I do not doubt that there are some Christians who believe it is OK to smoke cigarettes (some even think it’s OK to smoke marijuana, no doubt) and to have a beer or glass of wine once in a while. As Paul wrote, do you not know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:12-19)? As Christ Jesus said, shouldn’t the outside and inside of the vessel both be clean [for some of us are beaming outwardly, but inside are rotting] (Luke 11:37-54)?

You cannot say you are going to commit your life to Christ Jesus and still keep one foot in the world. Christians don’t go to casinos and gamble. Christians don’t go to rock or rap concerts in which our LORD and SAVIOR Christ Jesus isn’t being glorified. Christians don’t hang out at bars. Christians don’t abuse their body with drugs (cigarettes included) or alcohol. Can you imagine dying and going to heaven reeking of cigarette smoke or brandy? I can’t imagine those scents have a place before our FATHER in heaven.

As for me, I used to be all about the latest hot new sound in music or the newest action-packed movie. But no more. Those things can’t compete with Christ Jesus. I don’t want to sing Lil Wayne’s lyrics, which are all about people and things that are perishing. I don’t want to watch Sex and the City, which is all about glorifying the flesh and attempting to order one’s life and save one’s self without Jesus. These things are of a world that is slipping away, a world that is dying. Unfortunately, there are many in this perishing world that are choosing (some blindly) to perish right along with it. The earth will be consumed and destroyed as GOD begins HIS judgment, which is surely already upon us (Isaiah 24). If you are not covered by Christ Jesus, if you are not clinging to Christ Jesus, if you are not standing firm upon the Rock of your Salvation (again, Christ Jesus), then you are dead and dying. You cannot stand upon the Rock of our Salvation with one foot. You cannot cling to the Rock of our Salvation with one hand or two fingers. It is all the way, or you are kidding yourself.

As Christians we are to live by and walk in the Spirit, not by and in the flesh, for the flesh is perishing. The Spirit is eternal. The Holy Spirit of GOD takes pleasure in only the things of the FATHER. The Holy Spirit hates this world because it overflows with sin. As the Holy Spirit despises sin, so does the FATHER, for GOD hates sin.

As it is written in Romans 8:5-11

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

And do not be fooled by the Devil, for it is he who tells you and would make it seem to you that it is OK and acceptable to still cling to some of the old things you used to do. Satan is a liar and a loser, for he has already been condemned. He lies and lies and lies to keep the children away from the FATHER, but grace be to GOD, those whom the FATHER has numbered and marked for HIMSELF cannot be taken away from our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ (John 17). So walk by the True words of GOD. But you must walk before HIM in holiness and righteousness. Do not defile your body, inwardly or outwardly. Do not speak as the unsaved do, cursing and swearing with lack of self control. Let the will and desire of our FATHER GOD ALMIGHTY always be at the forefront of our lives, for we do not live for ourselves or for the world. We are as light walking among the darkness, meant to lead others by example and living the Gospel (and teaching it, too) that there is only ONE from whom this light comes — and HIS name is Christ Jesus, LORD and Savior of those who would seek HIM.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of GOD? Do not be deceived [by the actions and words of those in the world around you - LaVrai]. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of GOD. And such were you some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the LORD Jesus and by the Spirit of our GOD.(1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Avoid the fate of Lot’s wife. Do not look back once the LORD has begun a new thing in you. Do not look back or your place will be with the unbelievers, outside of the Kingdom of GOD.

I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that all whom the FATHER has called come running to HIM before their place is taken away and given to another. Amen.

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