DUI AND THE ARMOR OF GOD

THE PRINCIPLE
How in the world is drunk driving related to the armor of God?

It has to do with the principle behind the laws created against driving under the influence of alcohol. If a person is driving while intoxicated, he creates a potential danger to himself and others. If caught, he will be arrested and fined and may lose his driving privileges. Repeated offenders may even be sentenced to prison time!

He will be also be held responsible for any actual damage he has done. The worst outcome of course is that he accidentally kills someone. If that happens, he may be charged with manslaughter!

What's his defense? "I was drunk!" he tells the judge. "It was an accident!" True! The drunk driver may not be a murderer by nature. He would have been more careful if he had been sober.

The principle then, is that he is held responsible. It is not because he intentionally killed someone. He is responsible for his actions beforehand which ultimately led to this tragedy!

 THE ARMOR OF GOD!
As Christians, we often try to justify our sin by using the same defense!

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13

"Lord, I sinned because I had been neglecting reading my Bible, praying and spending time with You!" It's not really my fault. It just came over me. It just happened!"

Men who are caught cheating on their wives often claim, "It just happened!"

When the children of Israel molded a golden calf to worship in the place of God, Aaron told Moses, "We threw the gold into the fire and this is what came out!"

CAUSE AND EFFECT!
Like the drunk driver, we may not intend to sin but nevertheless we are responsible for the actions which led to our sins!

There is a cause and effect which leads to sin.

What actions led to a husband cheating on his wife? Did he meet someone and they accidentally "fell" into bed in the correct anatomical position?

Was he spending inappropriate time alone with her? What was his thought life like? Did the music he listens to or the shows he watches encourage his behavior?

We are responsible for guarding our hearts from being "intoxicated" with the things of this world!

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
Matthew 15:19

COMMISSION AND OMISSION!
God holds us responsible for sins that we commit (sins of commission) and actions we omit (sins of omission)!

We are not to merely to avoid outwardly committing sins. We must also be PROACTIVE toward sin by preparing ourselves ahead of time to choose that which pleases God rather than ourselves!

PROACTIVE is defined as: (of a person, policy, or action) creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.

The armor of God is like the armor a soldier puts on before he goes to battle. If he neglects to put it on, it doesn't matter if he had no intention of being wounded. The enemy will target us whether we are prepared or not!

The armor is provided by the military. It is the soldier's responsibility to put it on!

God has provided armor for the Christian. It is our responsibility to put it on!

If we are negligent the things of God now, we may find ourselves unprepared when "the evil day" comes!

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