What A Christian Can Miss
Bill Brinkworth

Many are convinced that if they become a Christian and live a life as prescribed by the Word of God, they will miss a lot in their life. They are right! If one lives a life centered on the Bible and abides, to the best of his ability, by its teachings and commands, he will miss a lot that the unsaved will have happen in their lives. A 100% God-fearing, God-obeying Christian will most likely miss:

• Cirrhosis and other liver diseases from drinking alcohol. An obedient Christian will most likely miss getting cirrhosis of the liver from alcohol; as he will avoid the sin that causes much of it.
• Lung cancer from smoking. When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit impresses on a person to take care of their temple (their body). Smoking is usually one of the first sins to go. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19
• A broken marriage. If the husband and wife are both obeying God in all areas, chances of having a successful marriage are great.
• Begging for money. An obedient Christian should be a hard-working employee and has a God that will help him provide for his family and himself.
  “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25
• Having a drug addiction. A God-obeying child of God will avoid any substance that takes control of his life; and therefore, will be far away from ever partaking in drugs.
• Making the decision to have an abortion. Because they will not have relations with the opposite sex until they are married, they will probably never have a need to consider killing an un-born child.
• Ever having to worry about venereal diseases. Because a God-obeying spouse will be faithful to his spouse, he likely will never have to deal with sexually transmitted diseases.
• … hundreds of heartaches.

Being a Christian does not guarantee anyone that he will not have hardships in this life. Sin hurts all. Sometimes innocent God-fearing and God-obeying Christians do suffer from others’ involvement in sin. However, if they obey God’s commands they will avoid much of what happens to those that do not follow God’s guidance. They will certainly avoid consequences from self-inflicted iniquity.

Sometimes a now-obedient Christian suffers from the side effects of unrighteousness they were involved in before they were saved, or when they were not so obedient. Just getting right with God does not mean the scars of sin will go away. That is why God never wants us to get involved with sin in the first place.

An obedient Christian will want to do what God tells him to do from God’s Word. Most of God’s commandments are to avoid sin. If a Christian avoids sin, his chances of getting hurt from evil-doing are much less. It is wonderful being a Christian. Avoiding some of sin’s side effects is one of the benefits of being a Christian.

“ No sin is small. It is against an infinite God, and may have consequences immeasurable. — J. Taylor

* The above lesson is meant to be an idea for a lesson or a sermon. I purposely left out much wording so the teacher can add to it and make it his own. These ideas can be added to by the teacher's own studying.