Gone too far

I know far too many people who have come to their senses only to realize they have gone too far. I read a story some years ago of two serial killers. They found themselves in jail cells across from each other. Over several months they became friends and talked a lot about their past. What they realized is that each of them came from good Christian homes. They both had opportunities to succeed in life. yet, because of circumstances they found themselves in a jail cell for life. What went wrong? They both came to the same conclusion: they believed the lie.

            What was the lie? The lie was that their parents had it all wrong. They let anger and frustration take them for a ride. A ride that ended in jail. One more. In the movie Star Wars: the revenge of the Sith. Anakin Skywalker is tricked by the dark lord. In the end, Anakin kills the one he loved. The dark lord blamed Anakin for it. In that moment the young Jedi realized he had gone too far. I have many friends who went too far.

            I know one who woke up late in life and realized he was old and owned nothing. I know another who wished for so much but died a lonely angry death. Another friend is jobless and lonely with a beer as his life. On and on I could go. I have a feeling that several others will wake up and realized they have gone too far. Another friend is in a terrible marriage. They may wake up at 50 and realize that it was toast many years before.

            So, what do I recommend? Should you ditch a sagging marriage? Quit an uninspiring job? How about change your sex, run a marathon, or pick new friends? I could say all of the above. Change is good. Yet, the more people change the more they stay the same. Do people vote in corrupt people? Has there always been murder? It’s odd that the terrorists think they are on a crusade. Yet, body after body of fallen comrades littler the ground around them. Did they go too far?

            What does God have to say? James 1:14 “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” That’s it in a nut shell. We desire to win and we forget to fight. That seems weird but God knows. People see the end and reach for it. Yet, it’s hard, trying, and exhausting. Desires wear down our defenses. They say a crime leaves five mistakes. Why? It’s because the prize takes our eyes off the task.

            So, a good plan sometimes goes awry because we are tantalized by the end result. Take Aladdin. He was told to not touch anything in the cave of wonders. His monkey could not resist and they barely made it out alive. We want a person so badly that our own personal cost is worth it. Really? The truth is that it’s only for a season. People can only take it for so long. Then it’s gone too far.

            I have a friend who had a terrible wife. It was awful. Yet, he adored her. This man went back several times. The trouble is blame. He blamed himself and not her. Sometimes we don’t look in the mirror. Then years later we find ourselves repeating the same mistakes. The trouble is the ‘gone too far” part. In jail you’ve gone too far. At 50 you might have gone too far. Try finding love at 50. It’s not as easy as you think. Try making a career close to retirement. To quit drinking after 30 years. It’s not that easy when you’ve gone too far.

            People say that all things are possible with Jesus. Just believe and he will deliver. Sometimes we go too far. Judges 16:20 just might be the scariest verse. “Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.”

            Samson went so far that he did not realize God was gone. Do you really know when it’s gone too far? The trouble with desire is just that. Your blind to the line. All you want is what you want. God tells us over and over to be leery of desire. To put more importance on what is everlasting like Jesus. Don’t put a job, relationship, or desire over your health. Over your family. Over doing what’s right. Be more kind to others and yourself or you might just find that you’ve gone too far.

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