Fallen Bodies, Fallen Lives

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!" the minister quoted to the young men and women gathered before him, each of them convinced of his or her own might and all ready to begin their prodigal journey. Raised in the church, some would meet drinkers of beer and learn to drink beer, while others would meet promiscuous sexual adventurers and soon learn to experiment sexually. The most pitiable of all among this group of young prodigals met unbelief, and soon learned to walk very far away from the Lord of their childhood to a land where every sort of sin was encouraged and celebrated.

Some part of this story could of course be our own for those of us who grew up attending church on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening and any other time a group of any sort gathered in the church. We may have learned that God lived there in that church; it was His house after all. To the young prodigal, stepping out of the church meant freedom from God and His almost countless rules and regulations. Furthermore, at a certain age we got to step away from the parents and their rule and rules. Freedom!

Like the young prodigals of our story, we probably soon found our free young minds and bodies keeping company with evil. Not vampires and werewolves of course, even the prodigal son in our Lord's parable did not keep company with the pigs right away. No, in evil company we gradually fell away from good habits. In place of awakening to righteousness, we woke up with a bad taste in the mouth and perhaps a head spinning round and round, and we learned to boast of it! Evil company loves fallen bodies; sin latches on to fallen lives.

Praise our Lord Jesus that His tale of the prodigal does not end there! The God who loved us in our youth is always ready to welcome another prodigal home to a white robe and a feast. Why was the prodigal so ashamed when he returned? Paul tells it; the evil company may not have a knowledge of God, but those of us raised in His knowledge should be ashamed of any prodigal habits we might be clinging to years after our return to the Father. "Awake to righteousness, and do not sin."

Rejoice in Christ, former prodigal, let us live together in Him! And may I say a 'Hallelujah!' that our Lord is not confined to a building back in my hometown? Amen. Hallelujah!

Bucky