The Lure of Sin

When I was growing up, children went outside and played games with their friends. We would play in the streets until the streetlights came on.

Then we went inside, sat down, and had dinner with our families. Things are different today. One day I wanted to go outside and play, but I was told I could not go. So I stood on the inside porch, looked out the window, and watched my friends.

Then I decided to open the door and stand on the stairs just outside the door. Technically, I still was not playing with my friends. I stood on the stairs and watched everyone for a while. Then I decided to walk down the stairs and stand on the sidewalk that was connected to the stairs. I still was not playing. In my mind, it was “playing” that was the real problem. After standing on the sidewalk for a while, I decided to walk down to the fence at the edge of our yard. From there, I had a really good view of my friends playing in the street.

At this point, I was just a few feet away from where they were. Next thing you know, I was playing kickball in the street with my friends! Looking back on that day makes me think. This is exactly what happens with sin. We know what we want to do is wrong, but we end up taking little steps toward sin until we are completely involved.

Sometimes we have compromised so much that we forget what we are doing is wrong. As you probably guessed, I got in trouble that night.

What I did was wrong, and there are consequences for doing what is wrong. It is the same way with sin. There are consequences but not just earthly consequences: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23, KJV). Fortunately, as today’s text tells us, we can repent of our sins, and we will be forgiven. We should do our best not to take those little steps into sin.

But if we do, we need to remember that we serve a loving God who will forgive us! He will also help us not to sin if we just ask Him.

Praise God!

Elaine “Lainey” Lyons