Stink Sticks

Stink Sticks

I remember when I was younger, my grandma and uncle were pig farmers. We have a pretty big family that is really close, and every Sunday after church, our whole family would congregate over there for snacks and games. Most days it wouldn't smell too bad, but on occasion, something would be "just right" and as soon as you got out of the vehicle, your nose would start protesting!

As little kids, it just didn't really matter to us, we would run off together not caring about the smell at all. The parents would run the opposite way, into the house trying to escape it. We all knew, though, that if you just were out in it for a little while, you would get used to the smell. We would play for hours some Sundays, and as long as we were together, we would take on any odor that tried to run us off.

Now at this point in the story, it might seem pretty sweet. So nice that a bunch of cousins are that tightly knit that "nothing" will tear them apart. In one sense you are so right. (We still to this day have a really tight bond) But one thing stood out to me today as I was thinking back to those memories. We would march into grandma's house together, unified…and smelly! While we were getting used to the stink, the stink was attaching to us! Our parents would demand that we get back outside immediately or "the whole house" was going to smell. I kid you not; every part of us and everything we were wearing got washed when we got home!

As an adult, we can find ourselves in those same situations.

Do you have friends that have been friends forever, and even though they may do a few bad things, it won't affect you? Or you go to a college that doesn't stand for God, nor does it teach Him, but you won't let it change your mind? There are a million and one different scenarios that I could write about where you should run, but instead you allow yourself to get used to the stink around you. I have heard it so many times, that "I won't fall into that pit", only to later see that person trying to dig themselves out of it. It comes down to one thing, we don't think the stink sticks.

1 Thessalonians 5:22

"Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Such a simple verse, but packed with so much instruction! It is not just saying that we shouldn't do it, but also that we should stay away from even the appearance of it! God knows how we work. He actually knows, way better than we do. If He says that we need to stay away from even the appearance of evil, don't you think we need to stop thinking that we can be tough enough to withstand it?

God sees all the "pig farms" around us. He sees where the stink is coming from. We on the other hand, just decide to get used to it, so that we can continue on with our fun.

If you decide to not listen to God today, be very aware of the danger. Maybe you will be o.k. for a while, but eventually you too will be in danger of falling right alongside everyone else. Don't think that you are exempt from satan's schemes. You may think you are tough, but without God's protection surrounding you, you will for sure walk away stinking.