“Plato once rebuked a person for engaging in a gambling game. And when the person protested that he had only played for a ‘trifle,’ Plato replied: “The habit is not a trifle.” ~Plato
When I look at my past, back to my youth, anything that became a bad or questionable habit for me or in friends, started out as innocent dabbling/exploring… not looking ahead or thinking of the consequences. Evil or degenerative ‘exploring’ can quickly lead to bondage. Drugs, alcohol, pornography… bad, negative movies or gaming; any behavior that brings chains of addiction/bondage should be avoided as though a plague.
Often youth explore, with friends, seeking ‘good fun’. Any friend or collectively, friends, whose personalities are stronger, more assertive than my own with possible evil results, MUST BE AVOIDED. ‘Good fun’ with the addition of boredom and/or, taken to excess, is no longer productive and leads me down a degenerate path from which it becomes difficult to escape. Genuine freedom under Christ comes with the opposite. When I choose to elevate my own or others’ lives towards habits approved of / friendly to my Heavenly Father’s plan for me, I find inner peace, I’m in harmony with His purposes and open up more instruction from Him. (see Alma 41: 3-6)
So schooled by Him, I am free. This is because any other alternative, like “I can take care of myself, thank-you” or “I just want to dabble in Satan’s playground for a little while” totally shuts out His unlimited wisdom and influence and is a path towards Satan’s bondage. Christ knows me far better than I know myself, so anything he does to discipline me, including those happenings I would not choose, are always for my good and has a sweet end result. I must always remember that my mortal perspective is short sighted. His is an eternal perspective always for my good, even when it seems not so or that he’s abandoned me (… Remember on the cross, He was left to suffer alone for a time). This life was never designed to be all fun and carefree because that has no real growth, only atrophy (Webster – wasting away, arrested development). Though His path is not always easy, it is easier than without Him and is full of blessings for the faithful. And… with Him as my best friend, I really can do it! and as promised by Him, can partake of all that He has (D&C 84:37-38). His generous gifts come through my learning disciplines as he suggests, as slowly or quickly as I am able and available. I do this by prayer, keeping the Sabbath, daily study of his word (from all HIs true and sanctioned sources) and gladly living it. kdm
revised and updated from July 1,2015
