When I was growing up, I took everything in their literal forms as most kids would. I put more emphasis on toys than the food and water I needed to survive. When I get captivated by a video game, the world temporarily ceases to exist to me and food comes secondary, if I remember to eat all. Unless it gets too exhausting or runs out of battery, nothing else could come between me and my portable Nintendo. Even as a teenager and later on, an adult, my emotion remains latent. I barely take anything too serious when, in fact, there is a time for joy and a time for sadness, a time to celebrate and a time to mourn, a time to neglect trivial matters and a time to be serious.

Just recently, my dad has gotten very sick. Since it had happened before and he’d recover long before I knew about it, I thought to myself that it wouldn’t be any different this time. Though I did show that I deeply care about his health, I certainly didn’t take the time to talk to him, to show that I understand that he was in a very difficult place. As he was getting better, my sister forwarded to me some pictures that she took when his condition has worsened. Suddenly, my emotion took a turn for the worst after seeing them. I went from being rejoiced to feeling agitated. I felt the need to give him a call right away not noticing it was past his bedtime. I didn’t realize how seriously ill he was until I was presented with facts. Although he is now slowly recovering, I sometimes asked myself how could I have missed that part where I might not have taken his words too seriously.

The same way when we get accustomed to a dangerous lifestyle, when we are living on the edge, we don’t realize the depth of our sins until tragedy strikes our lives, for some of us until it is too late. It’s always best to seek help or advice as soon as possible and never a good idea to wait it out, until we are presented with some type of eye-opening proof. We don’t have to wait until we are shaken to the core, until our too-comfortable lives are disturbed to be aware of the changes that need to take place. We can hope for and expect the best when we live a life worthy of the calling we’ve received.

There is time to reflect on our decisions making, a time to really think through about how important are the words to us. There is a good reason why he asks us to search our hearts, where every fantasy takes place. Sin is first conceived inward before having to be acted upon. If it’s a matter of life and death, then we know the consequences are severe. We know not to take it lightly. Just how serious should we take sin? Not too impressed by my dad’s story or by anything else discussed above? Well then I’ll leave it up to the verse below:

Matthew 18:9 NIV

“If your eye causes you to sin, gauge it out and throw it away.”