Based on Matthew 5:27-30 (New King James Version)
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
The Lord said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14. In today’s society, doing that which truly pleases God is not very popular. From the stand point of helping people, I think everyone likes that aspect; which is the core of Christianity. But also, as Christians, there are certain things that God does not want us to do because of the destructive consequences. And this is the part that is unpopular. The world says that it is ok to do whatever you feel like doing.
The first part that we must understand is that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin. He didn’t die on the cross so we could continue doing those things that are harmful or unprofitable; no matter how attractive they can be; and no matter how much we would like to fit in the world. Sin is wrong, and its destructive not because God just says it is and he is trying to keep us away from living “happy” of “fun” lives. He helps us understand what it is so we can stay away from it and avoid the natural consequences of sin.
The Bible states the following: “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a. What this means is that the natural consequence of sin is death. It’s not necessarily that God punishes you for them (although in His holiness, that will be decided in the future). The issue with sin is that it causes in us death. It can be destructive in the immediate future and in eternity (where it has its worse effect). The Bible teaches about this because it is just a stated fact; not an opinion. It is a natural law of the universe. Sin will kill you here and in the future. Many think that they are sinning and everything is just fine. And yes, it may seem that way… …for now; but in the future, it’s consequences will be very evident.
Sin is like cancer. There are things in our environment or that we do or ingest that causes cancer (we just don’t know exactly what causes cancer in many respects). And before cancer strikes, everything seems fine and normal. It appears that whatever we are doing is not affecting us in any way. But after some time, something starts going wrong. We start to feel certain symptoms; although in some people, there are hardly any noticeable symptoms until it is too late. People mistake those symptoms for other issues. There may be weird headaches, or body aches, certain other abnormalities that are mistaken for other sicknesses and diseases, and the cancer itself is dismissed. But then, when that blood test comes in, or that scan is done, then the true sickness is revealed.
Sin is exactly the same way. While we are doing it, it seems like everything is fine. That’s why many people don’t take it seriously; because they don’t see any immediate issues. Years go by and everything still seems pretty normal; but yet, they are oblivious to the disease of sin and how it is slowly eating away at them, and everything that surrounds them. And of course, if God’s forgiveness is not sought after through complete repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (the only way to be free from the consequences of sin), the full consequence is revealed at a time when there is no turning back. Once you stand before the throne of God without being forgiven and healed from the disease of sin, then eternal death is at hand. You can’t talk your way out of it. You can’t say you didn’t know. You can’t ask for the medicine because it is not available anymore. You didn’t deal with sin during the time it could have been treated.
What is as important to understand as believers in Christ is that sin can continue to cause issues in your life; especially if you continue doing it on purpose. The consequence of sin doesn’t change. It still causes death. It’s like a surviving lung cancer patient continuing to smoke cigarettes. How ridiculous does that sound? Why would a lung cancer survivor go back to the very thing that could have taken his or her life? As odd as that sounds, spiritually, that happens on a daily basis. There are many Bible teachers, preachers, and scholars that teach that it’s ok to just continue through life without repentance because God forgives all. It’s ok to sin because God is love. It’s ok to sin because God has forgiven your past, present, and future sin. But this sort of teaching does not agree with true Biblical principles. God does forgive our sins, now and after. God is merciful. God is love. But the natural consequences of sin can still have their effect in your life if they are left unchecked.
So, if you want to fit in the world and follow what everyone else is doing, you are inviting the consequences of sin into your life. If there are things that you cannot let go; or quite frankly; maybe you don’t want to let go, then you are bringing upon yourself sin’s consequences. Maybe you go along with family and/or friends because you don’t want for them to feel strange. Sometimes it’s because you don’t want to lose a relationship and that’s why you do what you do. Maybe you just enjoy it. There are many reasons, but all of them jeopardize your spiritual and physical well-being.
The awesome thing in Christ is that you can escape the awesome price of sin, and you can defeat those things that only bring destruction to your life; but it is your choice. God did everything for you so you can be saved, healed, restored, etc., but it’s up to you if you want to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity we all have through Christ Jesus, and be able to start clean, and stay clean for all eternity. And if you do stumble and fall, come back to God so you can be healed and made new. We will not be perfect here on earth, but God wants to change our lives day-by-day, so we can leave behind those things that only bring suffering and pain here; but worse of all, in eternity. Compromising or being weak to sin will not do you any good here or later.
So, are you considering the cost of allowing for sin to still have a part of your life? Lord bless! John