SINLICIOUS
Sin is the great enemy of life. (By sin, I’m not talking of petty little preferences that some believers and pastors try to make a sin. I’m talking about sin…declaring independence from God; rebelling against Him by pursuing our desires over His; disobedience to His clearly expressed truth and will.) Of course, most believers have this idea down…at least in their head. Checkout Romans 6:23 if you’re wrestling with the truth of this idea. In John 8:34, Jesus made it clear that it was the slave master for all of us.
However, though sin is the great enemy keeping us from experiencing the freedom and fulfillment that Christ purchased for us, we don’t treat it this way. If we’re honest, we trivialize it…even flirt with it…as if it’s not all that serious.
A good example of this is found in the fact that the most common use of the word is in relation to food…especially desserts. You know…this dessert is “sinfully delicious” or simply…”sinlicious.” Though seemingly innocuous, I believe that it’s a clear picture of our mindset towards sin. We tend to see it, as a great dessert, as something we shouldn’t do, but we wish we could…because God, like a weight watchers consultant, is robbing us of the best parts of life. (Of course, this isn’t new. Remember Eve looking at the “tree” thinking how “good” it looked?!) We really do tend to view sin as something, while not all that good for us…not all that bad either. After all, if we gain a couple of pounds, we can always lose them. Right?!
This attitude is killing us. It’s keeping us from the freedom and fulfillment that Christ came to give us, (John 8:32, 36 & 10:10). If we’re going to “stand firm” in our freedom, we must see sin for what it is…the great enemy of everything we desire in life…of everything, Jesus came to give us.
Here are some recommendations that I’m working through in my life. If I want to experience life as God has designed it for me, then I must…
Hate sin…as much as I would cancer ravaging my body or the body of someone I love. After all, it’s a cancer that is destroying peoples lives both now and forever. (Psalm 97:10)
Fear sin…knowing that, unlike a sinlicious dessert, it is able to control, enslave, and destroy me. It can rob me of everything God desires for me. (Mark 9:42-48) (Note: since sin stems from the heart, Jesus isn’t teaching that cutting off a limb can keep us from sinning. He is clearly teaching that we should fear it so much that we will take drastic measures to cut it out of our lives.)
Understand we can overcome it…we’re dead to it. (Romans 6:2,11-14) Jesus said that He sets us free from the master of sin. We need to believe Him. When we allow Jesus to own and control us…sin no longer can.
Commit to overcoming it. (Daniel 1:8)
Helpful hints: Admit you have the tendency to trivialize it; Claim your power over it (John 8:36); Flee it (2 Tim.2:22 – when you know an area of weakness…stay away from it); fill-up on God’s Word (Ps119:9,11); and live in total submission to and reliance on God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
Too many “sinlicious” desserts certainly isn’t good for you. But, sin is certain death. Let’s see it for what it is and stand firm in our Jesus bought freedom, (Galatians 5:1)