Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. We hear famous rappers glamorize the street life, hood wars, robbing, killing, and dealing. Some watch the gangster movies and quote Scarface, Al Capone, and other notorious gangsters, but in reality, we know very well that it’s really nothing glamorous about where that life leads. So many that live it die from it. So many that feel it frees them to find that soon it only imprisons them. The question is if people know the reality of the street life, why do they love it so much? What’s to love about having to watch your back everywhere you go? What’s glamorous about being paranoid all the time? What’s so gangster about dying at an early age or going to jail for the rest of one’s life? Why play a game that you automatically are a loser? It’s way more to life than money, dirty dealing, killing, and fast living. Why can’t you see that? There will be times we all mess up; there will be times when we all may feel the need to defend ourselves. There may be times when we get angrier than we should and do regrettable things, but there is also a time to take a long look at oneself and make a serious change. Satan has deceived and blinded so many. That power you feel in the streets is false power. Jesus Christ will empower you for real. Let Him in before it’s too late. You may feel your homies love you, but which one loves you more than God does? Do not live your life rejecting and denying God, whom you must leave here and face one day. Nobody can take their homes, cars, money, or anything with them, to the grave, yet so many are trading eternity for this dying world. They get into trouble and have to deal with the consequences, basically alone. When someone dies, people cry and miss him/her; but life will go on. Maybe occasionally, someone will pour out liquor that gets absorbed by the dirt- saying it’s for you (how sad). T-Shirts will be made saying R.I.P. to you when you could have still been amongst the living. It’s time to stop the foolishness. It’s time to pray hard that God removes the scales from your eyes. Too many are dying before their appointed time. It’s time to think beyond the moment. Is proving you’re gangster really worth the consequences that come with that life? Why leave your family in a pool of tears? Why shorten such a precious life of purpose? You have so much to offer this world. There are too many torchbearers whose lights have been put out because of something senseless. I have one question to whom it applies: Are you sure you want to live that kind of life? We all know that God has a much greater purpose for His people than that. He didn’t put you here to prove a point or commit heinous acts for validation. Wake up! Come higher in your thinking. You’re robbing your own families and communities of precious treasures- YOU!