Snakes and Ladders

Matt Richards

2 Peter 2:20-23 If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. They prove the point of the proverbs, "A dog goes back to its own vomit," and, "A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud.

Never go back to the stuff you were saved from. You'll end up in a worse mess.

Many people become Christians and their life dramatically changes. They get forgiven and often set free from the demons that kept them slaves to sin, their habits and addictions. It's a wonderful life. They are Glory bound.

Somehow, someway they get distracted. For some it's a partner or a job distraction, others it's something bad that happens to them or even the taking of offence.

Whatever the reason, whatever the distraction; they choose the way of the snake (to sin) and slide backwards into their same old life again.

It's like the game of snakes and Ladders. They hit a snake on the board of life and slide to the bottom.

It's like being totally bathed and clean to roll back in the mud and get filthy again at the bottom of the board. How sad is that.

Often times I've seen the end of that person being worse than they were before they were saved.

All the habits, anger, bitterness, and addictions come back with a vengeance.

They become unrecognisable. They have become a target for the devil and he is now taking them apart.

Never go back to what you vomited up.

Never eat the stuff you were allergic to. The poison, that when you were full-on for Jesus your body just couldn't stomach.

Unlike the game of snakes and ladders you can stay on the right path, no matter how the dice lands and what life has thrown at you.

Never slide backwards. Never go down by the way of the snake.

Prayer:

Father forgive me for going backwards. For being offended, for choosing to sin. Wash me clean. Help me today, restore me, renew me. Place my feet on the right path today in Jesus' name amen.