We are very adaptable; we get used to different conditions easily, and change our habits. People can live in the north under extreme cold temperatures, and also in the constant heat of a hot climate. They can live in luxury, in mansions and riches, and also in poverty; they can even get used to living in prison. People can get used to living in the city among millions, and also in the country as hermits, alone.
A person can get used to living in sin, under continuous evil-thinking and planning. He can get used to living in bitterness, hatred and in a revengeful spirit. He can be corrupted, cruel, and hate others. He can get used to living in vanity, in continuous fun, parties, and fashions. He can become engrossed in business so much that nothing matters except money, and more money. People can get used to thousands of different religions, trusting that they will make it to heaven, and have eternal life.
But, also, people can become used to a life of holiness, purity, and self-denial. We are very habit-forming; anything we do a few times becomes a habit to us. First the new habit is like the thin line of a spider’s web and can easily be broken, but every time we practice the habit, the stronger it gets, and finally it becomes as an iron chain, almost unbreakable.
We start forming our habits from the earliest years of childhood. How careful the parents must be in the education of their children. “The children begin young to deceive, cover up, tell things in a different light from what they are to their mother, as well as their father. Exaggeration becomes habit, and blunt falsehoods come to be told with but little conviction or reproof of conscience. . . . Subdue them young; teach them to submit to you, and the more readily will they learn to yield obedience to the requirements of God. Encourage in them in a truthful, honest disposition. Let them never have occasion to doubt your sincerity and exact truthfulness.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 157
This is our life work, to break up the bad habits and learn new, good habits. This is what churches are for, also. Some churches overlook some bad habits, and therefore they are known as fallen churches.
The Ten Commandments are the standard of right habits and practices, and God’s Church, the Reform Church is to be the guardians of this law. We must prove to the world that the Lord can enable us to keep the law of God perfectly. Satan is claiming that the law of God cannot be kept. He tries to tempt us to commit the unpardonable sin.
When you are converted, being born again, sin can be overcome. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9
After we are born of God and are given strength from above to overcome every sin, Satan will not give up on us, but will continue to tempt us back into our old habits.
Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
A drug addict can stop using drugs with great effort, with God’s help, but he must be very careful that he will not fall into the old habit. If he had never learned this bad habit, he would have no temptation towards it. Little sins are dangerous because we tend to pay no attention to them, because they are so small. Little sins, however, open the way to greater sins.
“But what an inferior, pitiful sacrifice, at best, to offer to a pure and holy God! Noble faculties have been paralyzed by wrong habits of sinful indulgence. The aspirations are perverted, and the soul and body defaced.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 165. It works so slowly that we do not realize the danger we are in. Then suddenly we will wake up and find that we have no faith, our missionary spirit is dead, and sin does not look so bad anymore.
We must, however, make experiences with God, and see His goodness. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” Psalm 34:8
Bad habits can be changed to good habits. Peter denied Jesus by swearing and cursing, but he repented and became a faithful servant of God. Paul persecuted the faithful followers of God, but he changed and became a faithful missionary for God.
God is testing us constantly to show us our bad habits; greater tests reveal what we are. Some, from habit, seek an easy life and comforts; others, by habit, follow duty and righteousness.
Together, Abraham and Lot were too crowded, and Abraham asked Lot, “Where would you like to go, to the right or to the left”? Naturally, from habit, Lot chose Sodom, the city, to live in. The choice of Lot seemed good for a while, but later he was disappointed. He lost his married daughters, his wife, his home, and all his belongings, and had to go and live in a cave, with nothing.
Our minds think in a certain way from habit. When we have to make important decisions, from past habits, we make either a right or wrong choice.
Many newly converted Christians have tremendous power to break every bad habit. I have seen people give up smoking, drinking, drugs, worldly entertainment, unhealthy foods, and bad language, all in a few weeks. Then if they go back into some of the old habits, they have a terrible struggle to overcome them the second time. Some never overcome them again.
To practice a known bad habit makes it stronger every day. Today it is easiest to overcome it; tomorrow it will be harder, and every day neglected makes your willpower weaker, and your faith weaker.
“Some will be wayside hearers. They will be affected by the truths spoken; but they have not cultivated the normal powers, they have followed inclination rather than duty, and evil habits have hardened their hearts until they have become like the hard, beaten road. These may profess to believe the truth; but they will have no just sense of its sacred, elevated character. They do not separate from the friendship of the lovers of pleasure and corrupt society; but they place themselves where they are constantly tempted, and may well be represented by the unfenced field. They invite the temptations of the enemy and finally lose the regard they seemed to have for the truth when the good seed was dropped into their hearts.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 111
“There are few who form evil habits deliberately. By frequent repetition of wrong acts, habits are formed unconsciously and become so firmly established that the most persistent effort is required to effect a change. We should never be slow in breaking up a sinful habit. Unless evil habits are conquered, they will conquer us and destroy our happiness.” –Ibid., vol. 4, p. 654
Come to church every week—it is a good habit—and it will help you escape the attacks of the wolves who are after you. Do not watch bad television shows—they are from the world, and create a bad habit, which is difficult to overcome. Rather, create a good habit of Bible reading—it will give you happiness.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15–17
Soon we will be divided and separated on account of what we love, or what has become a habit to us.
Sister White gives us counsel regarding the good habits the Lord wants to develop in us to prepare us for heaven. She also tells of bad habits we must overcome. I will mention a few of them here:
“One selfish thought indulged, one duty neglected, prepares the way for another. What we venture to do once, we are more apt to do again. Habits of sobriety, of self-control, of economy, of close application, of sound, sensible conversation, of patience and true courtesy, are not gained without diligent, close watching over self. . . . The record of wasted moments and unimproved opportunities must be met when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened and everyone shall be judged according to the things written in the books. Selfishness, envy, pride, jealousy, idleness, or any other sin which is cherished in the heart, will exclude one from the blessedness of heaven.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 452–453
“Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others. Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings. When tempted to complain of what someone has said or done, praise something in the person’s life or character. Cultivate thankfulness. Praise God for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us. It never pays to think of our grievances. God calls upon us to think of His mercy and His matchless love, that we may be inspired by praise.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 492
“It is a serious mistake to neglect the public worship of God. The privileges of divine service should not be lightly regarded. Those who attend upon the sick are often unable to avail themselves of these privileges, but they should be careful not to absent themselves needlessly from the house of worship.” –Ibid., p. 511
“There are young men and women who are very much opposed to order and discipline. . . . They pay no heed to rules for rising and retiring at regular hours, but burn the midnight oil, and then lie in bed in the morning. . . . Would it not be well to break up the habit of turning the precious hours into night, and turning the hours of night into day by the use of artificial light?
“As far as possible, it is well to consider what is to be accomplished through the day. Make a memorandum of the different duties that await your attention, and set apart a certain time for the doing of each duty. Let everything be done with thoroughness, neatness, and dispatch. . . .” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 114
We must correct our eating habits, they are important in our character formation. We must practice strict honesty, also moral purity, and we need to practice patience.
By persistent effort and continuous practice, right habits will be formed, and we become sanctified and Christlike. The Lord will provide the necessary strength required to form good habits. Some bad habits are easy to overcome, like, smoking, drinking, drugs, and meat food; but the harder ones are: love of the world, sensualism, selfishness, pride, covetousness, and envy. These habits linger often when other sins have been put away. If we will overcome all bad habits, we will be in heaven and will continue to practice them throughout all eternity. Amen.
Timo Martin