Sin’s Nature
Scripture
When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”
~2 Kings 9:22, NIV
Quote
Sin is a plague, yes, the greatest and most infectious plague in the world; and yet, how few are there that tremble at it, that keep at a distance from it!
~Thomas Brooks
My Thoughts
Growing old is not for sissies but there are some distinct benefits and discerning the true nature of sin is one of them. The longer I live, the uglier sin becomes. I see nothing good about it and nothing good in it. It is by far the most destructive force in the universe. It can destroy the innocence of a child, a marriage, a family, a paradise, a nation; ye, even the world. It can destroy your health, your hope, and your happiness. Other than God Himself, sin can destroy anything. It certainly destroys peace. Joram’s question to Jehu was “did you come in peace?” Jehu’s classic answer was, “Peace, what peace? How can there be peace with your evil mother on the throne?” There is no peace when sin is enthroned.
Sin is not only very destructive; it is very sticky. It clings! It is all but impossible to shake it off. When, by the grace of God we see sin for what it is, we want to kill it or at least have someone kill it. When we are decieved by sin, we try to nurture it and keep it alive. The Israelites grumbled in the wilderness because they had no meat. They were sick of the manna. They lusted for meat and God gave them meat but it did not have the effect they had hoped for and they got sick from the meat and of the meat until they wanted no part of it. This is the way God’s works; slowly but surely, He allows us to get sick of our sins. Then He gives us the grace to let them go. It is called sanctification. It is the process of losing things, getting rid of things, forsaking things that we once cherished.
I heard the story of the college football coach who began his fall practice with a see-sermon. He had two aquariums underneath a sheet. When he ripped the sheet off, there was a rattlesnake in one and cocaine in the other. His point was that drugs are as deadly and dangerous at a rattlesnake. It you see the deadly nature of sin, you will keep your distance. Sin is lethal, deadly and to be avoided at all cost. The world live in denial of sin and it’s destructive nature. They talk about poverty, racism, equity and inclusion but they refuse to call it what it is—SIN. The only sin for the left is to call sin a sin. Folks are number one problem is sin. We have far greater problems than racism. We have a huge drug problem and we rank number one in the child traffic market. The problem is sin and until we get honest and confess it, there will be no improvement.
Extra
Graduation went well last night which means Ty and Josie are officially high school graduates. For 18 years I thought Josie’s name was Josie Tate but last nights program had Tayte. I pointed out the misspelling and I was corrected {whats new}. I was told, they spell it TAYTE but pronounce it TATE. The Y makes a difference; it makes it two syllables Tay-Te. I still think the progam is wrong and I am calling her Josie Tate and she is going to UCLA on a soccer scholarship. Ty is trying to land one of the managers jobs at Alabama {Basketball}. His next step is working the summer camps. He is competing with several kids for this job so it is not a done deal.
Lord willing, Jesse and I are headed to Duck River in an hour or so. It has been three years since I have been fishing. I don’t care a thing about hunting but I love to fish. Then Wednesday, LORD willing, Ty and I are going to see Arden Breedlove {Ty’s Cousin} play softball. She plays SS for Austin and they made it to state. She has 28 home runs and has been walked over 70 times.
God bless you and have a great day!
Extra/Extra
~May 20th Shrimp Boil at the Pavilion: too hot to cook in the sun.
Everybody that reads the blog is invited. We will be outside LORD willing. Just shoot me a text and let me know you are coming. If it is raining, we will go inside. We will play that by ear. We need the rain so we are not going to complain. We will have a bean bag tournament if it is not raining.