Facts About Sin
A Christian may, upon occasion, wonder why someone would willingly continue to sin. It almost appears as a distant concept that we, too, fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), drowning in sin at one time as well. Thus, reminding ourselves of several facts about this ugliness that rails against the Spirit of God is good.
First, sin is attractive. Consider the garden of creation. It is in verse six of Genesis, chapter three, that we read, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desireable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate." Eve, "the mother of all the living" (Gen. 3:20), was drawn away by her lusts (Jas. 1:13-15; 1 Jn. 2:16).
Second, sin loves company. Notice also in Genesis 3:6 how "she also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." It is not enough that sin should dwell in the darkness alone; it needs other participants to survive; this is why we constantly struggle "against the rulers...the powers...the forces of darkness...and the spiritual forces of wickedness" (Eph. 6:12).
Third, sin is fun. Let us not kid ourselves. The Hebrew writer speaks of the "pleasures of sin" (Heb. 11:25) and commends Moses for turning his back on them. To say that sin is not pleasurable and satisfying to some worldly desire within us is to admit that we have no concept of how evil and its master labor in this world. Yes, sin is enjoyable, but it does not last. In that same verse, it calls them "passing pleasures." They are fleeting. Like a flower blooming in the spring, it is desirous to the eyes, but then, in the heat of a summer sun, it is cut down. Sin, too, is pleasure, but only for a season.
Fourth, sin is death (Rom. 6:23). It is destruction. How many lives, families, and nations have come to ruin only because they lusted for evil (Jn. 8:44)? It is sin that leads its adherents to everlasting separation from God. They are "slaves to impurity and to lawlessness" (Rom. 6:19) and "slaves to sin" (Rom. 6:20).
However, though these things I have spoken about are true, they need not be true for you, for there is a solution. There is forgiveness in Christ. He gives life to all who come. "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt. 11:28). Are you thirsty? Jesus has living water (Jn. 4:10). Are you hungry? Jesus is the bread of life (Jn. 6:35).
