Throwing Yourself Under the Bus

A young man should know that he does not have the wisdom to keep his way pure. He has not learned from the school of hard knocks. He can walk in purity because he has not walked in such sinfulness that his life is scarred. He does not have to know why God has said what he must do. He does it because it is God's Word. He does not have to commit sins to know they are against God's Word and have devastating consequences.

Bad decisions will lead many people to good decisions. They have learned from their failures so that they can correct what they have done. But this isn't God's plan. We can walk in His ways and avoid the stains of many sins. These stains come from the memories of these sins. The sins may be forgiven but the memories of them seldom die.

Today we have a common expression of throwing someone "under the bus." It means that we have sacrificed them for some other reason. The reason is always to our advantage. However, I have seen more people throw themselves under the bus when they have chosen sinfulness over purity.

I have seen a man leave his wife and children to pursue someone he met. Many people think he has thrown his family under the bus. Yes, he has but he has also thrown himself under the bus. He has left his faith behind as well. His life will never be complete or fulfilling again. He will be so stained by his sinfulness that he will never walk with the Lord in the same way. The repentance that he will need to come back to a place with the Lord will be a true miracle. He will never really be able to repair the hurt he has caused. He will never have confidence in this person with whom he has left his family for. If she will do it with him, why should he expect that she won't do it with another? His life will be utterly miserable after a season of sinfulness. He has a great chance of being truly alone even if he lives with others.

I have never been unfaithful to my wife but I know what it would do to the relationship. I am old enough to have watched others ruin their relationships. I know that they have thrown themselves under the bus.

I use unfaithfulness to a spouse as an example. There are other ways to throw yourself under the bus. You can go to a life of "drinking with the guys" as you forget your family. You can spend your family into oblivion. It doesn't matter if you are still in the home. You have already left them.

You are no longer riding with them on this journey for you are under the bus.

Psalms 119:9 (NIV)
 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.