Put Away Childish Things

I was reading the book of Romans 1. And I came to the last verse, verse 32. And I am reminded of certain behaviors.

Romans 1:32 says

Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die —they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.

To understand this verse, we probably have to back up a bit. Let’s start reading from verse 29 – 32.

They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful. Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die —they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.

When I read that, I was reminded of my high school days.

Although we knew certain actions were against the school’s rules and regulations and would result in punishment or discipline. We went ahead and did them anyway and acknowledged/applauded those who broke the rules too.

Back in my high school, we also somehow made it a standard that you should not cry or feel any remorse during your punishment. Oh, what sinners we were. Didn’t look like sins back then, we were just having fun (Yet we still commit so many sinful acts today as adults and we see them as fun).

If you cried or felt remorseful, you broke the status quo and you were not a “bad boy or girl” material enough.

And for some acceptance, recognition, and acknowledgment among peers, everyone wanted to be a bad boy or girl.

We all wanted to belong to the clique.

So when you were being disciplined in front of the whole school during the assembly, you are to look strong, un-remorseful, receive the cane floggings and walk away with style and swag while the whole school, especially your classmates hailed and clapped for you.

Foolishness!

We applauded wrongdoings and applauded you after your punishment too.

We were basically saying, “Keep it up. Do more bad things. Break more laws.”

Now, I look at those high school behaviors and NOTHING is different from what we still do today as adults.

Although we know the rules and regulations in the society and violations of them will attract some punishment, we go ahead and do them anyway.

Although we know God’s just sentence against sin, evil and wicked acts, we do them anyway and applaud those who do them too.

I guess we never grew up.

We are just adult high schoolers both in earthly and spiritual things.

We are still breaking laws, committing evil and sinful acts, just to be accepted by others.

But the sad and unfortunate thing is, if we keep living our lives to please others, to gain their acceptance, to gain their standing ovations, to gain their few seconds of applause, their likes, comments, and praises, We will also gain God’s just wrath.

If you ask me, such applause and acceptance suddenly seem so meaningless and vain and do not measure up at all.

We need to grow up.

We need to stop acting like children.

We need to live for the audience of God only. Live to please God only. Not men.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things __ 1 Corinthians 13:11 (CSB)

It’s time to put away childish and foolish things.

#GrowUP.

God Bless.

You are Eternally Loved.