She was not a new Christian, but was new to living a life of total obedience to the Lord, because she had not grown much past her salvation.  After living for many years in a sinful situation, she had finally obeyed the Lord and had become active in her church, along with her husband and kids.  There were struggles, but she continued on that path until one day.  One very big, sad, thrilling, awful day.  And that was the day she met him.  Younger, funnier, seemingly more wonderful him.  And slowly her life went off the tracks, and she began dabbling..just a little..with sin.  And no one really noticed. So she dabbled some more, and people began to notice, and she grew defensive.  And hard, and uncaring.  She slowly quit church, and turned a deaf ear to those in her church and circle of friends who tried to bring her back, turn her around, and counseled her that GOD called it sin, and it was wrong.  She continued to not hear, and to cut off those who annoyed her…and she had now come full circle from where she began.

The story above is true..and I am one of the friends that still loves her.  And the result in MY life, and the lives of so many others who also care about her and her family is heartbreak…sorrow…and anguish at the seeds she is sowing, and the future consequences.  You see, one of the biggest lies the enemy tells us is that what we do affects NO ONE else but us.  Biggest lie ever.  And far too many people today believe it..Christians and the lost alike.

So what’s the real truth?  It’s this: sin is sin, it still destroys lives, and it still breaks hearts!  Family, friends, church members, pastors, and ministry leaders are brought to their knees every day by the actions of those in their lives that choose to believe this lie, and their hearts are broken for those they love who are caught in this lie.  Sleepless nights happen and anguished prayers flow from hearts that feel too distraught to continue on.  And ALL of this because one person decided to pursue their own way, and decided everyone else would not notice or would get over it.

So what’s the answer?  It’s more like WHO is the answer!!  It’s GOD, the only one who can bring a straying life back to Himself..and Who can heal the broken hearts left in their wake.  GOD, who was so brokenhearted over the sin of the world that He sent His only Son to the cross to save it.  And Who rose again to complete His victory over the very enemy that lies to us!

How will my friend’s story end?  Only God knows.  But I take comfort in knowing that His heart is also broken, and He is more than capable of bringing her back to Him.  And may He receive ALL the glory for it!