What are we thinking?

Living a lie. None of us really can do it for long, because we were created with one purpose in mind, to prove that God is the only Truth and the only Way. Oh yes, He gives us a long leash, but most times we run the risk of "hanging ourselves" with it. Scripture cautions us over and over again that God will keep His Word and be true to it, that His character is unchanging, that He is going to be known by His work in our lives whether it be now or later. Why do we think that a little pleasure here will satisfy us or that we can ever do anything out of His sight, or His allowance of it? My Dad used to say, "Don't ever mistake your Christian walk for fire-insurance." Hell is literal, but consequential "hell on earth" is horrendous as well. Do we only look at our sin with the thought that God will always forgive, so I can do whatever I want and then just ask forgiveness, only just to go on living our lives as we please? John the Apostle refers to our life in Christ as the abundant life. We are pre-labeled by our Creator as "perfect, thoroughly furnished for all good works." We lack nothing and only need to ask. Sad to say though, that no matter what, we are never satisfied. I always think back to the people of Israel as they journeyed through the desert. It didn't matter what God did for them, and it was amazing, that they spent much of their forty years in His presence whining, crying, fighting, it was disobedience on parade...constantly pulling on that proverbial leash, as they insisted more than once on doing their own thing. Maybe those desert travels are more of an accurate picture of our lives even now, than we think? The biggest difference I see is that we don't live under the scrutiny of the Law anymore, but instead under Grace. How benevolent of a loving God. He knows what we will do to continue to push the envelope. How it must sadden Him to think that after all He has done to prove Himself worthy of our worship and our trust, we, as they, are still so stubborn in our ways. Short sighted, easily distracted, and selfish. When we read what the punishment was for their poor decisions then ... murder, adultery, disobedience, idolatry to name a few, we can only be amazed at the stark difference in what we often "get away" with now...but, only for now. I am bothered and perplexed at how we justify our actions, act on our thoughts and emotions, and then don't give our willful disobedience a second thought. Satan doesn't seemingly have to bother with us anymore. We have become so tolerant, and accepting with each other he must barely give us a second thought much of the time. Our ears have stopped listening to God's still, small voice because we have not "set a guard on our hearts and minds," and have become insistant in believing our own lies and making our own paths...crooked as they are. Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul while stepping outside of His hedge of protection is a misnomer at the very least. We can't have both, anymore than we can have it all. Choices have to be made within the boundaries of His grace. Does He forgive...Absolutely, and removes our sin to be seen no more. However, just as the Israelites discovered, we too have to deal with the resulting consequences. Is it ever worth it? Don't think so...Not now or ever.