Leaving the Comfort Zone

Introduction

            

Some people do not like change. Even if it’s an improvement they simply don’t like it. Technology, for example, is constantly changing. One year you’re listening to LP records and the next year, it’s compact discs. The same with movies; from VHS to DVD; and now Blu-Ray. People try to resist these advances; settling into their “comfort zone” of entertainment, but even they soon realize that they have to change.

 It’s just a Vice; we all have one

In religion it’s almost the same as more people are staying in their “comfort zone”. There are those who call themselves Christians that attend worship, read their bible, pray, and basically lead a “Godly life”. However, when you explore their life you notice that this “Christianity” is only on the surface. Something is still there that shouldn’t be because they can’t leave the “comfort zone”. Things like: an occasional glass of wine with dinner, a purchased lottery ticket (but only if the total is over $100 Million), or some other sin that they call a vice. “Everyone has a vice,” they would say proudly.

The word vice is used instead of sin to downplay the activity.  However, here’s a few definitions found in the dictionary:

1.      An immoral or evil practice or habit.

2.      immoral conduct; depraved or degrading behavior

3.      Sexual immorality; especially prostitution

4.      a fault, defect or shortcoming

Just looking at these definitions would make me think twice about using the word ‘vice’ in place of sin. It is the one and the same.

But none of the people who call themselves “Christians” really want to leave their comfort zone and total commit their lives to God and what the scriptures say. They come to God with stipulations; “I’ll become a Christian provided I can continue to play the lottery. Not all the time, just when the amount is high enough for me to retire.” Do they really thing God will allow you to become one of His children with conditions attached?

Examples from Scripture

Look at the story of the Rich Young Ruler (Mk. 10:17-22). Here’s a man who has been taught the truth from the scriptures since his youth and yet he sought out Jesus as he felt he was missing something in his life. Here are verses 21 and 22 for the outcome:

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This man loved his possessions so much he refused to leave his “comfort zone” and do the right thing. He expected to come to Christ with the condition of keeping his vast fortune and Jesus knew it would be a distraction.

Another example can be found in Luke 9:57-62. Here we have three men who want to follow Jesus, but don’t truly understand what’s at stake so they rely on other things to avoid confrontation. They show “good intentions” by requesting to be a disciple but fall back on their “comfort zone” to get out of it. Here’s the identity of the three:

The Planner: (vs. 57:58) You can tell by Jesus’ response that this man wanted to know where they were travelling to and where they would be lodging for the night. He wanted the comforts of a warm meal and bed. But even Jesus didn’t know where he would be sleeping from one night to the next.

The Faithful Son: (vs. 59-60) He we see one who wants to join but excuses himself to go and bury his father. The problem here is that we don’t know if his father is even dead. From this we can conclude that he is going to wait until his father passes away before he joins. This could be another 10-20 years.

The Family Man: (vs. 61-62) This man wants to bid goodbye to his family first. The problem with this is that if he does so, he might allow himself to be talked out of it and change his mind. This is why Jesus responds about looking back. If you’re constantly looking back on your past life as something good; you’re not fit for the kingdom of God.

Advice from Paul

The apostle Paul warned the churches about “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:9; 1 Cor. 5:6-7) A little sin can destroy a soul just as easily as a big sin. Some people believe that telling a little white lie is not as bad as telling a major lie. But Rev. 21:8 tells a different story, “…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Sin is still sin; whether big or small.

But Paul did have some encouraging words also. In 1 Cor. 6:17-20 he wrote, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Conclusion

If we want to be pleasing to God and be his children, it’s time to leave our “comfort zones” of sin behind. Be separate from those of the world (2 Cor. 6:17-18), do not love the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17), give up your evil ways (Col. 3:9-10), and live our life for Christ (Gal. 3:26-27)