A Double Life...

The world in which we live makes it very easy to live a double life; to have a private life that no one else knows about while acting differently in public. I think this is especially true for teenagers. They can have private conversations through text message, E mail, Facebook, and on their cell phones while their parents have no idea what is actually going on.

When we are secretive about our lives and don't want anyone to know how we are living, the Bible calls that "living in the dark." In other words, if we would be ashamed for others to know how we are living and we hide it, we are living in darkness. Check out what the Bible has to say about this:

John 3:19-21 says, "God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."

Here is the problem: Sin happens in the dark... and sin is fun... for a moment... then, it ruins you.

Most of the time when we are sinning, we do our best to hide it so no one finds out. We don't want LIGHT to be exposed on our sin. We like to sin in the DARK because if it is in the dark no one knows, right? Wrong. We often times forget that God knows...

What are you doing in the dark that could potentially ruin your future or your faith? Here are some things to think about:

• Would you send that text message if everyone at your school was going to see it?
• Guys, would you make a move on a girl if her Dad were there?
• Would you send that picture message to your friend if you knew your Mom would see it?
• If someone asked to look through all your text messages, would you let them or would there be something to hide?
• If every one of your conversations at school were recorded, would you be okay with them being played back for your youth pastor?
• Is your relationship with your boyfriend/girlfriend sexual in any way?
• Do your parents know what you are doing at the party? At the movies? At your friend's house?

If you are living in the dark in any area of your life, the Bible says that you should CONFESS it. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us from our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If you are living in the darkness, expose it to the light. Confession cleanses your soul.

The dark is a scary place to be... I would much rather be in the light...