SIDE TRIPS ON THE WAY TO HEAVEN

A college student said “when you come from aliveness you always act appropriately” this was in response to some secular philosophical treatise.

John 10:10 I came that they (you) may have life and have it abundantly

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us, even eternal life.


John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life

John 3:14-15 even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.   (Have what?)

1 Tim 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Referring back to the student’s remark when you come from aliveness you always act appropriately, sounds good!

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

These scriptures seems to indicate that we who are born again possess aliveness, we are alive in Christ. The question is do we always act appropriately or do we take some side trips.

When speaking of the unsaved Gentiles they were characterized in  Ephesians 4:19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Can a Christian manifest some of the same traits?

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
(Do what? And what doesn’t happen?)

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Now even though a person is a born again Christian there is still warfare within and choices to be made. The choices come in two packages, one is the straight and narrow way.

( Isaiah.30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it.")

And the other is detours or side trips. These side trips are spelled out clearly in the scriptures and are crudely called the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: Immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of Anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

There are others such as adultery, fornication, greed, lying, stealing, taking advantage of the brethren and a host of others. Any and all these things are side trips, detours from the straight and narrow.

What occurs on these side trips?

Well first off fellowship with GOD is interrupted and you find you have a new friend, the prince of Darkness. This happens even though you plan to return to the Straight and narrow (I’m just fooling around, I don’t intend to make this my practice).

The scripture indicates that you either walk after the flesh or walk after the spirit, there are no other options.

We would like to think that there must be some middle ground where we can mess around “little bit” without causing a breech in fellowship, like you know a loop hole.

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? So also a little messing around can mess up your fellowship and testimony.


Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Ask yourself “What did that say”?  Is that a “gonna do” or “already done” issue?

The last question for myself is; “Does GOD take this business more seriously than I do?”