What Do You Leave Behind?

Posted on March 22, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

^“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18-24

Recently our pastor spoke of reading an article by a criminologist that said, “you always leave something behind you in a room.” My immediate reaction was that this is probably not true. In split seconds as he went on, I reasoned that if I simply walk into a room and do nothing, or walk into a store and purchase nothing, etc., I leave nothing behind. I figured this is just a great way to get my attention about sin. He then went on to say, “a hair, a thread from clothing, dandruff, a finger print, etc.”. Those are surely not big things that a normal person would consider, but a criminologist knows that that one thread of evidence is enough to convict a guilty party.

The application is obvious: your life leaves evidence of your actions and beliefs.

But wait, it’s worse than that! The smallest, seemingly most insignificant evidence is enough to convict you!

“All have sinned”. Even the best of us. Perish the thought: all of us continue to sin, even the best of us. That’s what Paul is talking about in the passage quoted above. I am wretched. BUT I AM FORGIVEN! That’s why confession is so vital.

When we think of leaving a trail behind us, we usually think of the good things, the successes, the victories. But this is a new twist on the same theme! What about the not-so-good things, the things of which we are ashamed, the things we wish we could undo?

If my life is the only Bible some people read, what am I leaving behind? What did someone who is watching me observe because I claim to be a Christ-follower and is just waiting for the right time to accuse me? This is why keeping short accounts and being up-front in apologies and confessions is vital.

May God protect us when we stumble even in the slightest way. We DO leave a trail behind us!

Written by Rev. Neil Fitchthorn Rev. Neil Fichthorn is a seasoned conference and camping servant having served at Gull Lake Bible Conference, Sandy Cove Ministries as President, and an interim Executive Director at Pinebrook Bible Conference. He also served in church music for decades as a choir director and arranger. He has been Bill Welte’s mentor and friend for over 45 years.

The Daily Bible Reading: Job 41-42 , 1 Corinthians 14:1-20| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote:“No doctrine of the Christian religion is worth preserving which cannot be verified in daily life.” John T. Watson

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. – Psalm 97:10