Your Spiritual “Pat Down”…

Pat Down is defined as “an act of searching a person for concealed items such as weapons or illegal drugs, made by passing the hands over their clothing.”  https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=pat+down

Most of us are aware of the security regulations when traveling by airplane. We are aware of the items you can carry onto the plane and what you cannot.  

When the Security Agents require more assurance of you not being a threat or choose to select people randomly, you will be required to be “waned down” or submit to a “pat down.”  They have to be very clear and confident that you are not taking anything prohibited on the flight.

However many of us need to see this in a spiritual perspective.

Here are a few items that will not be allowed:

• Hate
• Anger
• Bad Thoughts, Words or Deeds
• Resentment
• Grudges
• Lack of love for each other
• Lack of Forgiveness
• Attitudes

How do we think we can enter Heaven and eternity with God, while holding anger, grudges, judgment of others, hatred, discrimination, greed, love of wordly things or even unkindness in our hearts?

We can’t…

This even includes the three major categories of sin:

Sin of omission:  by the Scripture found in James 4:17, ”Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Sin of commission, or perpetration: When one commits this type of sin, they are going into it with full intent and eyes wide open, knowing full well it is against all standards of the Word of God.

There is another description of sin, simply.....” The transgression of the law.“ It takes into play our experience in the everyday work of life. Wherever we are at, whatever we are doing the loving law of God must be observed.  http://www.christianhusbands.org/writings/sin.html

The Bible explains:

1 John 2:1-2 (NIV): My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 3:4 (NIV): 4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

Matthew 15:19(NKJV):  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV): 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV): 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

1 Peter 4:8 (NIV): 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV): 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Memorable Quotes:

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” – unknown

"Sin is what you do when your heart is not satisfied with God." - John Piper

“Worst sin you can commit is a sin you think you can get away with.” -  David. A. Bednar

“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” – inknown

“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but what we do not do.”

We must be about the business of ridding our minds and hearts of sin so that if God requires you to have a spiritual “pat down,” you will be cleared to enter the gates of Heaven…