So ugly

I’m sure everyone who blogs will agree that it takes discipline to write at least once a day. So many things press in and I’ve missed a few days. Anyway, in case you’re reading my writings for the first time I have been speaking on sin. My entries are random and not in the right order because I’m writing as I’m cogitating. If you look at my previous posts you’ll see that “cogitate” is a favourite word and means “deep thinking”. I have been doing some deep thinking on this subject.

Just a short entry on sin tonight. The first human sin was committed by Adam & Eve who disobeyed God and ate fruit from a tree from which they were forbidden to eat. Eve was tempted by the devil and Adam, in effect, responded to urging of his wife. Here’s what I think…

Firstly, the devil tempted Eve but did not compel her. The decision to do what God had expressly forbidden was her choice. The responsibility for sin always lies with the sinner. A tempter may make it hard to say “no” but there is always the option of saying “no”. The devil still tempts us and sometimes other humans tempt us, but more often we do things without being tempted simply because we are sinful and want to sin.

Secondly, and this was going to be my main point as per my title, sin is extremely ugly. It is interesting that when Eve looked at the fruit she saw that the tree was good…that it was a delight…and that the tree was desirable. Sin mostly looks like this but Bible writers rightly describe it in vile terms like: dung, a menstrual cloth, poison, vomit, putrefaction (as of a dead body), etc.

No matter how pleasing sin may appear, if fact, it is as ugly and horrible as! It looks like this to God but even if it does not look like this to you, it is like that! Sin did no good when Adam & Eve sinned – it resulted in the most unspeakable and horrific consequences. As pleasant or as harmless as it may appear in your life and mine, it will likewise result in the most terrible consequence. And the more sin, the more consequential will be the results.

Who can save me from my sin? Only Jesus. I hope at a later stage to more fully develop Christ’s relationship to sin and the sinner but for now let me quote from The Messenger: All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward. (1 John 3:4-5) You see? No-one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. Only those who have put their trust in Christ have been forgiven and are helped to overcome the power of sin (a lifetime work).