Action, the First TimeFirst Time Action - Bible study Topics on Habits
In this section you will discover:
Action, the First Time“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”—GALATIANS 6:7. “Sow a thought, you reap an act; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” The most serious action you would ever take in your life comes the first time. Watch out, think well and take your time. Be sure you make the right choice at every point in life where you meet the sign: The First Time. You need to act all the time. Yet, the first time is the most serious one. It is therefore the most important of any action. You need to think through and weigh it properly before you act especially when it’s your first time in life. Life is give and take. No one doubts that again. But often you forget when you sow a thought, you reap an act. You may not know, it is your thinking that determines your action. Here is another great secret, your smallest act lives forever: "Cast forth thy act, thy word, into the ever-living, ever-working universe: it is seed-grain that cannot die."
Yes, it is a very important truth of your nature that your actions are counted and weighed . Watch out for the “deceitfulness of sin.” There is a great tendency and risk for you to think an act carried out once, in secret or in the darkness of the midnight is uncounted or forgotten. The Bible exhorts you to take care of your single act today; lest you be hardened so that you woundn’t regret in future. Hebrews 3:13 “Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” Your action is your choice and decision. But what you first choose, at last would compel you when it becomes a habit. You are chained by your deeds even as the atoms are chained by the law of gravity. You can never separate your self from any of your little acts. You need to know also that your very act has within its nature a permanent life! It will live all the time around you like a shadow. Therefore, make sure your thinking is sound and choose your actions bearing in mind the results that would follow. Whatever will lead you to shame and regret in future just quickly and clearly avoid it. How to Test Your Actions:Before you act especially if it’s the first time, think, and think again. Imagine it’s going to be your greatest secret. How good or bad would you feel if this little act is disclosed to those who are so dear to you? Would you love them to hear or know about it? Anything you don’t want to associate permanently with, don’t allow - even for ONLY one occasion. Run away! No, fly out of it all! How Sin is conceive“Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.” Every sin starts in a single little act at the first time with a big surprise, or even a little shock. Then it becomes pleasing, then easy, then delightful and then frequent. By the time it becomes habitual, it is confirmed , fixed and leads step by step gradualy to death both physical and spiritual. Do you remember Rip Van Winkle in Jefferson's play. Rip, sworn not to drink again. However, at every invitation to drink, he would say, "Well, this time don't count." The truth is, he doesn’t need to count it. God is not counting it against Rip. The people around him need not count it too. It is already being counted all the same. In his never cells the molecules are counting it. It is being registered and made ready to be used against him when the next temptation comes. So you need to be wise. Take charge and count your very acts. For nothing you ever do is in any sense wipe out. The value of First Time ActionYou may say to your self, "It’s just for this occasion; this first time only. I will never do such again." Well, tomorrow cetainly is not in your power. What you have power over is your choice NOW! Like the Youngman Jot (Just One Time) you may decide to act and even be determined to do this thing just once. You only want a taste this first time like many people. You want to see what it really look like…? Yes, a little glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a cup of wiskey. How does it look, a dance in the dark with men and ladies of uncertain character? What smell and feeling will you find in trying your first stick of cigarette…..? No. Don’t tell me you just want to be like them all – and of course to be social! You want to be like the girls, acceptable into the club! Can you think a little more? Think of your friends , neighbors or those who said the same kind of things sometimes ago. Find out how Larry became today’s alcoholic patients. Rose a complete sex addict. And James! Talk to me about James, who formally could not withstand the smoke from cigarette and how he suddenly became a confirmed cigarette smoker! Think of those people any time you are confronted with the temptation to give in to just one cup of sparkling beer, a stick of cigarrette or an invitation for first time sex! Take care of the first time and the second would get rid of itself. Don’t ever imagine no one will know. Or that it’s not going to be counted against you. Or that it is going to be the first and last time after all. Can you count how many noble lives like Larry, Rose and James the unthoughtful first act have ruined? Watch out for a seed is sown just once! Then it germinates without further input from you. It grows and produces many of its kinds maybe a hundred or a thousand fold. Don’t forget this, when you are tempted, to say, “It’s just one little lie to help me out of this trouble”. Or "It just this one time." The steps to failure is in just one little cheating that no one is supposed to know of. Or a little bribe, embezzlement, gossip, evil speaking all carefully done in the dark so that no one knows! God is not Counting Your SinsYet it is well known to the one who needs to know. So don’t ever give room to just one little indulgence. It will be counted where you least want it. Yes, in the nature of things you can be sure it will be counted, whether you want it or not. The deed has been recorded with an indelible ink, even to the smallest detail. Sure, God Almighty is TOO big to be counting your sins against you. No! The truth is, He is so wise to make you receive what you give or reap what you sow. He put a recorder in you. It’s your Memory. It records all your thoughts, acts, and intentions. It is the key that holds everything. “That God was reconcilling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 | ||||||||||
