Twenty Below

It was a little chilly here in central Wisconsin Friday morning. It's actually twenty below zero as I write this. Brrr! Still, my wife and I are nice and warm inside of our house. Our wonderful little bubble of love. Yay!

But of course, we still will venture outside. Gotta check the mail you know. I also like to visit friends. We still have to go outside our bubble, our comfort zone.

Speaking of bubbles, I recently wrote a story called The Bubble. It was about keeping certain things OUTSIDE of our lives. But what happens when we ourselves venture beyond the perimeter of our bubble and into "The World"? That's the topic for today's story. Let's start off with some scripture to get ourselves going in the right direction.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Oh, that's a good one! Memorize it AND live by it!

Remember Covid? We were fine while we were staying at home, but when we went outside, that's when we caught the bug. Another lesson worth remembering. The same advice is worthy to note for the Christian. Outside is darkness and death.

Do you remember what Jesus said when He related the Parable of the Wedding Feast?

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

¹⁴“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:13-14

The guy they threw outside was an uninvited guest. He came inside the Bridegroom's bubble and was quickly thrown out. Still, we DO have to go to the grocery store. We still have to go to work or to school.

What happens when we step outside of our bubble and into the "outer darkness?" Only if we are rooted in God's word can we return home unscathed. Yet, at home we allow "the outside" to enter through our television, computers and our "smart" phones. We must be cautious.

I just looked up from my writing and saw a commercial on TV that featured a woman standing in front of the camera in her bra and panties, jiggling her belly fat. Then, suddenly, there she was next with her beautiful NEW body. I looked away. So did my wife. Too late. But that was the topic of my previous story. Letting things in.

The point of THIS story is, what do we do when we venture OUTSIDE our bubble? What can we do to protect ourselves?

Guard your hearts. 

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

Protect yourselves.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." - Ephesians 6:11

Endure.

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 10:22

Do all of these things, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My final point is this. Water freezes at 32°. Shouldn't it be REALLY frozen solid at -20°. One would think so. Yet, I can drive a few miles from my house and see open water on a river. Why? Rapids. The water is very active. It doesn't stand still long enough to freeze. And that is our lesson for today.

Be active in God's Word and in the lives of those that God has placed in your life. You are there for a reason. Don't let your love grow cold.