The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at Him.  And He told them:  “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts.  For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.  Luke 16:14-15 HCSB

We all like to make a good impression on others.  We want others to see us as smart, funny, and fun loving.  No one wants to be thought of as an old fuddy-duddy or a stick in the mud or whatever they are calling uncool people these days.  But we need to be very careful here.  You see, often times when we strive to impress people we break God’s heart.  God sees what we are doing as an abomination.

You see, you may work with someone who only thinks you are cool when you tell dirty jokes or make dirty comments.  You may have friends who think you are not cool if you don’t drink or smoke.  You may have people in your life that think that watching porn is really cool.  You may have people that believe that it’s ok to lie and cheat.  Now, if you feel that you have to impress these people, then you are gonna find yourself in a real pickle with God.

The saddest thing is that some people are trying to cater to two different crowds of people so they are praising the Lord and shouting Amen and Hallelujah in church on Sunday morning and telling dirty jokes around the water cooler at the office on Monday afternoon.  Some people get on social media and will have one post that is scripture filled and a couple hours later they will be posting off-color jokes, seriously?

Now this described me for many years.  I was in church because I truly loved the Lord and understood how I needed Him in my life.  But when I wasn’t in church, I lived the life of a miserable sinner.  That just doesn’t work.  I had something that happened to me years ago that is a good analogy of trying to live a double life.  Years ago, I had a house on the water with a boat shed in my back yard.  I was going to go for  a boat ride with a friend.  I had on my bathing suit with shorts and top on over it.  The boat had been untied and cranked and I was attempting to get in the boat.  I had one foot on the dock in my boat shed and one foot in the boat.  Now those of you that know me, know that my legs are not very long.  So I was unable to stretch too far.  I had to commit to the boat or the dock, but in my indecisiveness, gravity committed for me and I fell into the murky water which often had snakes and alligators in it.  Now fortunately, I was able to get back up on the dock, go change my clothes and get into the boat.  But you see, you can’t have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom.  It just doesn’t work that way.

If you want to go to heaven, you need to be living a like that exemplifies Jesus here on earth.  You need to be striving to please God, not man.  Galatians 1:10 puts is very plainly for us, it says, For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God?  Or am I striving to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

None of us want to be ostracized.  We all want to fit in with those around us whether it is at school or on our job.  But we must be very careful.  The world is literally headed to hell in a hand basket.  You don’t have to take my word for it, just read or listen to the news.  Talk to people about what is going on in your community and in your schools.  The devil is very, very busy.  Many people are walking in the flesh and fulfilling their own selfish desires whether it is drugs, sex, or some other addiction.  We must decide whether we want to make a great impression on people or a great impression on God.

One thing I have learned since I began doing my best to walk in the Spirit is that when I give it all over to God, He is going to provide me with good, faithful friends who love Him.  I will come under attack by those who are unsaved, but I can pray for them.  I can trust God to protect me from evil.  And who knows, in the process maybe someone who is unsaved will want the peace and joy that they see that I have in my life.

If you have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom, know that you are going to fall straight into the lake of fire.  Plant both of your feet firmly in God’s kingdom and live your life like a blood bought child of God.

Have a great day!