Gold Chain of Iniquity
The other day I was approached by a man offering to sell me stolen, real gold chains. In a quick negotiation, I paid him $50. This was the best $50 I spent in a long while.
It’s easy to be clean in a sterile lab environment. Just as anyone can be a great Christian closed off from the world, in their own circles. It’s the outside world that tests us and shows us what is subconscious and unseen. We will be forced to face scenarios that put our righteousness to the test.
I don’t believe I have an unhealthy desire for worldly possessions, I also don’t believe I steal things. I’m not a robber or a thief. In a couple of seconds being approached by a stranger, my values quickly became flexible. Malleable, to shape them into whatever I wanted. I’ve seen this con on a TV show and my instincts told me this guy was sketchy, but when I saw the glittering gold chain my common sense dissipated and my imagination ran wild. What if it was real? A $900 chain for $50? This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve been wanting a gold chain! This must be God blessing me! The interaction lasted less than two minutes, what a rush! Within moments I started to feel the tug that I did something wrong. I didn’t steal it, but he told me he stole them and I bought it from a thief. I was a thief by association. Justification followed. Bouncing back and forth on the drive home, I pray over the chain to try and take away some of the guilt.
Wearing it the next day, complements started to come from my peers. Telling me it looks so good on me. “where did you get it? It was expensive right?”, I was faced with another situation. Do I lie and tell them yes, or do I tell them the truth? Unable to live with telling a lie, when I know the truth, I told them what I did. Some were impressed such a thing happened to me. My smart friends instantly told me it was fake and I was a fool! They reminded me of that episode of Lost where Sawyer pulled this con. Then they made it sting by telling me fake chains are not cool. This made me hot with embarrassment. I knew they were right. Not only did I do something wrong in Gods eyes, but I also wasted money and was tricked.
With the weight of guilt much heavier than the chain, I decide I’m not going to wear it again. But hey, maybe it is real. Driving down the road I decide to take it to a pawn shop to learn the truth. After a few tests, it came back fake as fake can get. I was lied to. This was a kick while I was down. One evening bright eyed and optimistic, next day feeling foolish and like a failure to abide by the law of God. It was the greatest $50 I spent this month.
For the low, low price of $49.99 I bought something that is much greater than any physical possession. I got wisdom. I learned many lessons that day.
The First is Obvious: If it too good to be true, it probably is. Gold is never ever cheap. Con men are still real. I am now more street smart than I was. I will not allow myself to purchase something too fast before I consider every angle.
The Second: I am not as grounded in the word as I thought. In a situation as such, I was unable to discern if what I was doing was wrong in Gods eyes. I allowed the allure of gold to persuade me to the dark side. I will never be able to predict all situations, but through study and a complete conversion of Spirit I will be able to know what Jesus would do in all situations. True wisdom is then to follow His example. Buying stolen goods is stealing too.
The Third: Trust my “gut”, trust the Holy Spirit within. Justification is the first step toward sin. A slippery slope.
The Fourth: I now know how to check for fake gold. Imitation gold isn’t bad, but nothing compares to the real thing. Now I know 5 methods of testing for fake gold. Plus NEVER again will I fall prey to the gold chain trick.
The Fifth: NEVER trust a crack head
This is life long wisdom. A small price to pay for priceless knowledge. Every day since this, I am seeking Gods heart more intensely. The Word is slicing my spirit open like a 2 edged sword. This is a lifelong journey, but I know Christlikeness is possible. I know this because the Word tells me so. I shall continue to seek His face daily and purge my being of all my iniquities, most of them unseen and unrecognized. Today I even had a realization, while in the Word, of something unrelated and have asked my brothers to hold me accountable for the words out of my mouth. Fellowship is critical. Criticism is paramount. I’m seeking the mountaintop, the only way to make it will be hard work, dedication, persistence, and others to pick me up when I fall down.
I pray this message added something to your day, week or life. It is extremely embarrassing to admit and I didn’t want to publish this, but I would be remiss if I kept this experience to myself when other could possibly learn from it too.
Being truly wise is not having to experience something yourself, but being able to look onward and learn from another.
With a heavy humble heart. Shalom.
