Bad Choices

As human beings we often enjoy getting as close to the fire as we can without getting burned. As Christians, we tend to get as close to the world as we can without being part of it. The problem with that thinking is that God calls us to be holy--separate from those things which are not godly. When we take up the attitude that we can get close without getting burned, we place ourselves in spiritual danger.

Here is an illustration from the stupidity of human beings that illustrates my point:

A real estate tycoon who owns a nature preserve tried to show off for visitors by jumping on an alligator's back for a ride, but the reptile bit his hand and dragged him into 15 feet of water.

The 8-foot alligator let go of Ronald Bergeron after witnesses pulled its tail. Bergeron, 62, suffered a shattered pinky, a broken ring finger and puncture wounds in his palm.

The multimillionaire developer tried the stunt Sunday while giving a tour of his 5,000-plus-acre preserve to weekend guests who had made large donations to the Boys & Girls Club.

"I always tell them I'm going to wrestle an alligator," Bergeron said Wednesday. "It's part of my Florida culture. My grandfather was a game warden in the Everglades, and I grew up around alligators."

He said he usually rides the alligator for a minute before letting it go.

This time, Bergeron said, "he was rolling and I couldn't keep control of his mouth. He grabbed my hand in his mouth."

When asked if he would give up wrestling alligators, Mr. Bergeron's answer was that it was "unlikely" because it is "too exciting." Indeed. In the same way, sin is often "exciting," but it is also extremely dangerous to one's spiritual health. Be wise--stay away.