Throughout the Old Testament, we see kings and judges who were a disobedient people. In fact, most of these men were worshippers of other gods or themselves. Then we see a few who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but did not tear down the high places. Here is a God who is faithful – He gave plenty to His people, even protection. These were kings that knew God – who came from Godly backgrounds, yet chose to walk in grey areas.

We too have a God that gives and saves. He does our battles for us, protects and gives us plenty. Yet we, who say we walk uprightly in the sight of God, walk many times in the grey areas.

Many of the grey areas are what we were taught wrongly and are not willing to let go of. An example I learned from my dad: don’t do as I do but do what I say. Self indulgences may be R rated movies or even harmless flirting with the opposite sex. When the Holy Spirit points these areas out to us, we tend to justify them. “Well everyone is going to see the movie – it can’t be that bad”.

I know your works,and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. and you hold fast to My Name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolatians which thing I hate. Revelations 2:12

The Nicolations were an early Christian heretical sect. They were a group of freedom riders who supported self-indulgence and later became the gnostics. So the Lord says, I know your works. He does see faithfulness to ministry. Works can be good and we know that faith without works is dead.

But have our works become so important that it takes the place of the Father? Do we give time to prayer? Are we so busy doing Kingdom work that it takes the place of spending time with the Father?

He says He knows our works – He sees you – He see me and He created the job we are to do. And He calls us to His side – to spend time with Him.

And then because of a lack of prayer, our grey areas get greyer and darker. And we find ourselves walking much like the world.

At this point we need to stop – and repent and change our direction. We need to remember from where we came and repent – give the grey areas to God and allow the washing of the Word to come over us. We need to let the Holy Spirit take hold once again and be our guide and teacher.

Those grey areas in our lives can and will affect those around us. We will then see no discipline, no encouragement, no exhorting, no counseling. And above all, no love and unity. But we can turn things around – we can repent. And once again, our lives can become a source of light.

Grey areas are like a stagnant pond where suffocation can occur. These ponds are where evil will traffic. But these ponds were once a river – let them flow again with prayer and repentance.