When You Are Done Wrong In A Bad Way!

When You Are Done Wrong In A Bad Way!Dr. Vince Hefner, PastorFirst Baptist ChurchCherryville, North CarolinaI have always been the kind of person who acts first and asks questions later. This is not a bad attribute if you want to get something done quickly, but not knowing all the facts can be aggravating, harmful, and even dangerous. I recently purchased a MP-3 player to listen to musical tunes when I exercise or whenever I want to hear my favorite music. The player is so small that I can't read what the little buttons are for on the sides of the machine. If you push the wrong button the machine stops playing music, and the little screen on the device kinda stares back at you as if to ask you what you want.What I really need to do is read the directions and then all would be well. However, it takes too much time to read those directions about buttons and switches, time that could be better spent listening to music. Let's be honest, listening to your favorite music is the whole purpose of having one of those little gadgets, but it is challenge to know how a person gets his favorite music on his MP-3 player. I have requested, and have been given, these directions on how to put music on a high priced audio recorder. I was told that you have to "download" music from a "website" from the "internet" through a computer. Excuse me? That sounds easy until you have to plug the gizmo into the computer and push some buttons on the keyboard to get music to play. Now I know why I learned to whistle when I was just a kid, so I could hear my favorite songs as long as my lungs would hold up. Yes sir, I was ahead of my time when I "downloaded" a certain tune that was in my head to my MP-3 player (my lips) and began to play all my favorites. However, not everybody I walked past enjoyed the type of music I played on my homemade player. I guess not everyone is a music lover!Anyway, back to the idea of directions. For directions to do you any good, you have to read them and follow them. One of the most foolish things a person can do is have good directions and not follow them. There is an old saying that goes like this, "Being done wrong in a bad way..." That saying comes to mind when I consider not following directions. When you have directions and don't follow them, you will get lost and frustrated. To be honest, you have no one to blame but yourself for the situation and for the consequences you find yourself in when directions are not followed. In other words you have, "Done yourself wrong in a bad way," because you wouldn't follow directions that were designed to help you get to your chosen destination. Let's be honest, if there is one thing that is not in short supply in our world it is directions.As a Christian I read my Bible everyday to help me know how to live. Second Timothy 2:14-17 says, "But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work." Make sure that you read God's Word to help you in all areas of your life and with all your decisions. It is good to know that we can, "Do ourselves right in a good way," when we follow God's directions for our lives. Remember, don't give in to sin. Think about it!