Baited Hooks

In the Disney, Pixar film, "Finding Nemo", there is a scene where Marlin and Dory are in a dark ravine.  While in the cavern Marlin and Dory find a light.  They don't know what it is our where it's coming from but go to check it out.  As they move closer Dory, in utter fascination, touches it and the light began to move away.  Marlin and Dory follow the light in innocent bliss.  Then they discover where it was coming from . . . it was from an Angler Fish.  And it was hungry.  They were lured into a trap.  Once they realized what it was they turned tail, and made a break for it.  Good thing they made it out alive, or the movie would have been over a bit early.

There are plenty of things in this world that may seem innocent and harmless.  But in reality they do more damage than we may realize.  They may give us that temporary satisfaction for the moment, but it will not give you lasting happiness.  These vices are often disguised as innocent and exciting activities, but it is in reality a baited hook.  To add an extra glitter, Satan will make us think that once won't kill us.  That is only half true.  It may not kill you then.  Notice I said 'may', you are not guaranteed to make it out.  But you will get hooked and dragged closer and closer to your doom and misery if you persist in dangerous behavior.

Just like a fish knows when it has been hooked by a fisherman, we can tell if we had been hooked by a temptation.  It hurts to get a hook in your mouth, and it doesn't feel very comforting when you do something wrong.  When you know it's wrong, and you do it, you are never going to feel happy.  The Prophet Alma told his son, "Wickedness was never happiness" (Alma 41:10).  When a fish is hooked it is not going to let the fisherman just bring him in.  It's going to fight to get loose.  That is what you need to do once you have commit a sinful (wrong) act.  It will only bring you pain and misery if you continue in such degrading behavior.  Some many also try to make excusses to do something wrong.  If it doesn't seem right, or you have a bad feeling about it, it is best that you don't do it.  Your peers may redicule you for it, but your happiness is not worth the loss of a few friends.  You are garenteed to find better ones if the ones you have are not any good.

If you ever broken any of God's laws, you need to stop the behavior immediately.  Remove the vice from your life and break free of your bad habits.  This is Repentance.  Once you have fully repented of your sins, you will find freedom and happiness beyond comprehension.  I can promise you that obedience to God, is joy and freedom forever.