Standing up for the truth sometimes has consequences - we may be ridiculed, misunderstood, persecuted, or even killed. Most of the time, at least in our country, standing and acting on truth (not speaking out on truth, but merely living based on it), does not cost us much. In fact, we Christians are often considered to be "good people" in the way we conduct ourselves, so long as we keep our beliefs to ourselves (but that's a conversation for another day).
Compromise, on the other hand, always requires payment. It must by its very definition and existence. To compromise is to give up something in exchange for something you want more. That can work to your advantage in business or the NFL draft. When it comes to the truth found in Scripture, it's not such a good idea.
When it comes to our personal lives, morals, and beliefs, compromise forces us to move from a strong foundation and trade it for something temporal. Compromise keeps its true cost vague and often lies about it. It puts something exciting and desirable squarely in front of you, usually with a sense of urgency that you'll lose the opportunity if you don't act quickly.
It's almost impossible to count the cost of compromise up front. Think about it - an under the table business deal becomes public knowledge and you're guilty of a felony with all kinds of lifelong consequences. You marry someone that's not a believer, leaving you divorced as a single parent, heartbroken, and with mountains of legal fees. That undetectable performance enhancer shows up on a drug screen, ending your college career and a shot at the pros. You can't put a price on compromise because it always charges you based on what could have been - a future that can now never be realized.
It's not only our lives that are rocked by compromise. We affect our friends and family - the ones we claim to love the most when we make decisions based on short term pleasure or gain. Those consequences have long reaching effects that can rarely be contained to a small circle.
Fortunately, God is a loving, faithful, gracious, and merciful God who is willing to take any one of us the moment we turn and repent. He's pursuing in ways we don't fully understand. It is out of gratitude for His grace through Christ on the cross that we choose to live as righteous as we can in our own flawed ways. We're not perfect and never will be this side of heaven.
Compromise is a pretty poor testimony for someone who claims to love Christ and be grateful for His sacrifice. It's certainly not that God can't turn those ashes into a beautiful testimony of His love - He can and He will to all those that belong to Him. However, the ends do not justify the means. We should strive to live righteous and holy. It is a struggle and we aren't always going to win the day, but there's no excuse to not try when God is working for us and through us with His Spirit.
Whatever you're on the verge of today, step back for a moment and consider what's been sacrificed for you. If you can see the compromise for what it is and turn away, praise God for the strength and vision to see the truth! If not, repent. Come back to the open arms of Christ and lay down at His feet. He's promised you rest and peace. He's promised to finish the good work in you that's been started.
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