The Way Out

                The Bible uses no uncertain terms to warn us that sin in our lives is extremely dangerous.  It’s exciting at first to feel that you have gotten away with something “daring.”  After continuing in an act for a while, it becomes comfortable and the sinner no longer cares about getting caught.  And, soon, like any addiction, you need more and more involvement or a wider variety of sinful acts in order to achieve the same “high.”  Without warning, Satan tightens his hold and refuses to let go.  The end result is a slow, painful and humiliating death. 

            This downward decline into the pits of sin is described by James (1:13-15).  It is also depicted by King David’s involvement with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).  Temptation produces within us a lust to have or do something wrong.  If we continue to think about this long enough we soon determine to act upon it which produces sin.  And we know that the end result of all sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23).

            The way to get out of the pit of sin is to follow the same path David did to get free from his iniquities (1 Samuel 12).  His upward climb to forgiveness was to confront his sins and confess them before God.  He also committed to turning from them (repentance) and following God’s directives for being cleansed (see also Psalm 32 and 51).  Then, unfortunately, came a time of discipline.  Sin doesn’t enter our lives overnight, and it definitely doesn’t leave quickly either.  It takes  a great deal of strategizing, energy, and consistency of right-living to get it to budge in an outward direction.  Let’s mature to see these times as training periods to help us avoid future temptations.

            It is necessary for each of us to realize that we are not strong enough to handle the stresses and strains or the guilt of our sins.  We need divine help to overcome evil and to stay away from it.  Fortunately, we have a God who loves us and is incredibly patient with us until we come to comprehend this.  He showed this love by coming to earth, living a perfect life (that we need to imitate) and then paying the penalty of sin so we won’t have to.

            So do God and yourself a favor: be like David, the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Confront your sins and confess them to the One who is anxious to forgive them. Determine to steer clear of temptations in the future and fill your mind with God’s way of thinking (see Philippians 4:8 for a short list).

            You don’t want to die; and God doesn’t want that for you either (Ezekiel 18:30-32).

Doug