How Bad Do You Need A Fur Coat

The other day I heard a story on Greg Laurie's program.  It went something like this.
One day a man was out hunting.  He had taken his BIG gun with him because he was hunting for a bear.  You see he had always wanted to shoot a bear and today he was going to do just that.
While he was out hunting for a bear to shoot as luck would have it he came upon a bear eating berries.  It was a big bear. 
Just as he took aim and was about to pull the trigger the bear stood up to its full height and said to the man, "Wait!  Stop!  Why do you want to shoot me for?  What have I ever done to you?"
Quite startled at a talking bear the man lowered his gun and answered the bear.  "You haven't done anything."
"Then why do you want to shoot me," the bear asked?
"Well, you see, I have always wanted a fur coat made of bear fur and you would make a great fur coat."
"Oh.  I see," said the bear.  "Well I have always wanted a full stomach.  Do you think maybe we could go sit somewhere and talk it over?  Maybe come to some kind of compromise?"
The man thought for a moment and agreed to go with the bear and see if they could come up with an agreement where both would be able to get what they wanted.
They headed into the forest together.
After a short while the bear came out by himself.
He had gotten what he wanted and the man had gotten what he wanted.
The bear now had a full stomach and the man now had a fur coat.
Compromise!
What have you compromised lately?  What have you been willing to give up of your self to get your fur coat?
We all at times have thought that we could just compromise a little of ourselves to blend in with the world.  To taste a little of what it has to offer.  We think we can straddle the fence and walk with one foot in the world and one foot in heaven.  It doesn't work that way.  And really it is a picket fence and you will truly fall.
There is no such thing as a little sin.  You are either a christian.  Someone who loves God with their whole heart, sold out to what He wants for you or you are not.
We can look back in the Bible and find plenty of people that got their fur coat.
Lot's wife comes to mind.  How about Sampson?  They compromised. 
Lot's wife compromised safety for her hearts desires, stature.  Sampson compromised the call on his life for sex, vanity.
Both got their fur coats.
Mark 8:36 sums it up pretty good.  "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul."
What are you giving up for the sake of a fur coat?  Do not be deceived.  Satan is a liar and a trickster.  Satan would like nothing more than for you to allow just a "little" sin into your life because he knows how a little sin can turn into a big sin and swallow you up. 
Just like he deceived Eve, "Come on one little bite and you will be just like God."
Talking snakes.  Talking bears.  Whatever it takes to get you to take your eyes off of the Lord.  He tempts us with things that are appealing.  He never takes us to the dump and says, "See, all this could be yours if only..."  We would never give up our salvation for "garbage", yet we do every day.
Porn.  Fame.  Money.  Prestige.  Our job.  A boyfriend, girlfriend.  A spouse.
We give up what is precious.  We compromise. 
We wrap ourselves in the pleasure that the world has to offer.  Hebrews 11 tells us that sin has it's pleasure for a season. 
It comes down to choices.  Jesus is coming soon.  He is coming for a church that is washed in the blood of the Lamb.  Spotless.  Clothed in garments of praise.  Clean and righteous.  Robes of white.  He is not coming for a bride covered in a fur coat.  Even if it was ear muffs, hand muffs or even fur lined boots.  Sin...hear me now...SIN separates us from God.  No compromise!!!
Joshua told us, "Choose you this day whom you will serve."  I am telling you today keep on choosing.
Keep your heart, your mind and your soul set on things above and quit listening to talking bears.  No one needs a fur coat that badly.