As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians coming after them. Then the Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help. They said to Moses: “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you took us to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”     Exodus 14:10-12 HCSB

Being institutionalized is defined as established in practices or customs. It refers to someone who has become accustomed to being imprisoned and has a hard time living on the outside or in freedom. It’s easier for them to live in a system that gives them very little control over their lives. They are told when and what to do throughout the day. For some, the comfort of this combined with a place to lay their head and food to eat is better than being outside the prison walls.

The Israelites experienced this when they left Egypt.  This would be the first of many times they would grumble and complain to Moses and insist they were better off in Egypt.

Sometimes we get very comfortable in our sin. We prefer the bondage of our sin to living outside that bondage where we must submit to God and resist temptation in order to keep the devil from winning again (James 4:7). For many years, I certainly thought my sinful ways were just easier than giving them up.

Sin offers all kinds of benefits or so it appears that way. It also drags us down in bondage leading to death.

Our pastor often refers to our deliberate sins as our pet sins. We take great care to keep them. We believe we would be uncomfortable without them. I know I used to think this way. I just thought I was better off with my pet sins than without them. I was wrong.

Hebrews 10:26 tells us if we go on sinning deliberately after knowing the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins just a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. The devil will deceive you. He will try to trick you into believing that your sin is no big deal and God will just overlook it. That is a lie from the pits of hell my friend. Sin is always a big deal. God never overlooks it.

In addition to what Paul told us in Hebrews 10:26, we read John’s words in Revelation 21. John saw a throne where God was dwelling with humanity in verse 3. In verse 4 he wrote about how God will wipe away every tear, death will no longer exist and there will be no more grief, crying or pain. He said the victor, those who overcome sin and temptation, will inherit these things.

But in verse 8 he said the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will be thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur which is the second death.

You must choose whether you want to live in the bondage of sin and be a slave of the devil or whether you want to surrender yourself to God and live a life that is pleasing to Him. There is no middle ground, you must choose one or the other.  When you choose to surrender to God, He will fight your battles, He will protect you. He will be there to strengthen you against temptation. All you have to do is ask.

The Israelites went through many ups and downs during their 40-year journey in the wilderness. I used to pity those poor Israelites until I realized I was just like them. I had become institutionalized and had grown comfortable in my sin and bondage. I sometimes also had trouble living on the outside.

I plan to spend the next few days discussing this. I hope you will join me.

Have a great day!