Category Archives: Sin

Jul 16

The Greatest Rescue Story Ever Known

Posted on by

Perhaps like many of you, I recently was drawn in to the captivating story of the 12 young boys and their soccer coach who were trapped inside the cave in Thailand. For nine days the boys sat in the dark probably wondering if they were ever going to make it out to see the light of day again. After what we can only imagine was nine of the longest days of their lives, the boys and their coach were discovered by rescuers. The last of the boys and their coach emerged from the mouth of the cave nearly three weeks after first becoming trapped. What started as a nightmare ended up being a “feel good” story we won’t soon forget.

 

However, as great as this rescue story was, another rescue story trumps them all and that is the rescue story each one of us is involved in. Friends, the Son of Man came from heaven to earth so He could rescue us (Jn. 1:14; I Cor. 15:3). We learn from Hebrews that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away our sins (Heb. 10:4). Therefore, Jesus came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, rescuing us from the dark pit of hell. Had Jesus not come, you and I would be without hope.

 

This is the greatest rescue story of all time, but sadly it is one that is too often forgotten. Jesus, who was in the form of God (Phil. 2:6; Jn. 1:1-4), left the glory of heaven to come to earth and be treated as anything but God. He was born in a manger (Lk. 2:1-7), despised and rejected by men (Isa. 53:3; Jn. 1:10-11) and sentenced to death in the most inhumane way possible in that time (Matt. 27:24-54). He endured all this just to rescue us.

 

Watching the young boys and their coach being rescued was heartwarming, something I will never forget. However, some 2,000 years ago, Jesus left the wonders of heaven and traveled down to earth to rescue and save us from being eternally lost. His great love for us (Gal. 2:20) is and always will be the greatest rescue story the world will ever know.

 

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

Oct 05

The Heartache of Sin

Posted on by

 

Photo Credit: Free Grunge Textures – www.freestock.ca via Compfight cc

 

Just a few short weeks ago, hundreds of lives were forever changed when hackers made public detailed personal information that was derived from a website known as Ashley Madison. Since the news first leaked, several well-known individuals have been faced with having their secret sins made public. While the news has placed a great deal of significance of those clients who are well known, there are many more lesser-known clients who’s actions have wrecked the lives of those they love.

Thinking about what each of these families are now dealing with breaks my heart. Families who probably knew they weren’t perfect, but thought their wedding vows were sacred, are now dealing with the hard reality of adultery. As if this weren’t bad enough, these families have to deal with their heartache in front of the public’s ever watching eye.

Many of those who made the choice to sign up and participate in a website that promotes adultery made that decision without fully anticipating the damage that such actions would cause not only themselves, but also all the people who love them.

The Bible teaches our sins will eventually find us out (Num. 32:23). All we have to do is look back to Achan (Jos. 7), David (2 Sam. 11-12) or even the woman at the well (Jn. 4). Yet, in spite of our sins becoming known, many people continue to try to hide the very things which, when they are exposed, will bring about a great deal of embarrassment and shame to their families. Perhaps, for those involved in this recent public scandal, had they only taken time stop and think about the repercussions of their actions and the pain it would bring, they would have chosen differently.

Maybe the struggles you have and the sins you are trying to hide don’t seem so harmful at first glance, but rest assured friends, sin is destructive and, if not dealt with properly, can bring about a lot of heartache and pain.

May each one of us strive to fight the good fight of faith and to overcome the temptations and struggles we constantly battle. And as for those sins we are trying to conceal, let’s get real with ourselves and confess before any more damage is done (I Jn. 1:8-9).

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Aug 15

Joseph’s Game Plan

Posted on by

Joseph's Game Plan copyAny time a person is going to enter battle or take the field against an opponent, he develops a game plan. Christians entering the battlefield of life should be no different. From the moment we wake up until the time we go to bed, we are at war. Our war is with the temptation to sin. For most of us this battle with sin is hard because of all the temptations we face.

Joseph was a young man who faced the same temptation day after day (Gen. 39:10), yet he didn’t succumb to it even when he had the perfect opportunity. He had a game plan in advance. Notice what Joseph did to help him resist the temptation before him.

  1. He Remembered (Gen. 39:9). As Potiphar’s wife was standing there tempting him to sin, Joseph stated how wrong this act would be to God. I have to think we would be less likely to sin if before we gave in to the temptation we reminded ourselves how wicked the act is in the eyes of God.
  2. He Realized (Gen. 39:8-9). While some people might have tried to justify giving in, Joseph did not. He understood there would be consequences because she was the wife of another man. He simply had too much to lose. One of the best ways to overcome temptation is to understand when we give in to the temptation and sin, there will always be consequences.
  3. He Refused (Gen. 39:8). Instead of giving Potiphar’s wife what she wanted, he refused her advances each time. If we’re going to overcome the temptations which face us, we’re going to have to make up our minds ahead of time to refuse the temptation.
  4. He Ran (Gen. 39:11-12). When Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph and demanded he sleep with her, Joseph understood his refusal was no longer enough and ran. He ran out of the house and away from the temptation. If we want to resist the temptations we face, run away from the people, places and things that tempt you to sin.

To overcome the war with sin, we’re going to need a game plan like Joseph. We must prepare well in advance or it will be too late. May God bless us with the wisdom to develop a game plan for resisting temptation.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Oct 16

When It’s Time For A New Heart Part 2

Posted on by

Yesterday, I began a series called, “When It’s Time For A New Heart.” If you missed part 1 click here.

God was displeased with the people of Judah for their disobedience. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God told the people He was going to give them a new heart (Eze. 36:26). But why? Why did the people of Judah need a new heart?

They Didn’t Despise Sin! The people of Judah allowed the sin around them (Eze. 36:25). They were practicing idolatry, something they knew they shouldn’t be involved in (Ex. 20:3-6). My question is, “Who was protesting and trying their hardest to stop the corruption that was taking place? Who was opposing their false idols?”  If anyone was in opposition, although I doubt it based on Ezekiel 22:30, why didn’t they try harder to stop the corruption around them? The reason seems pretty plain…they didn’t truly despise sin. They allowed sin to be around.

Christians today are too accepting of sin. We live in a culture that says, “Love the sinner but hate the sin.” However, I’m afraid there is not hatred of sin. It’s more like, we love the sinner and ignore the sin. In the book of Revelation, Jesus said He hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:6). If Jesus hated the evil around Him, shouldn’t we do the same?

Consider how accepting we are of sin. Take the television and movies for example. Both of these are filled with a lot of corruption and sin and yet we allow our kids and ourselves to watch such filth. David said, “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless” (Psa. 101:3). How much damage have we done to our souls and the souls of our children by allowing such worthless content to be set before our eyes?

The Apostle Paul said, “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom. 12:9). The word “Abhor” means, “To regard with extreme repugnance; loathe.”

We should despise and hate sin. Ezekiel told the people God was going to cause them to remember their evil ways and loathe themselves because of their sins (vs. 31-32). The word “loathe” means, “to dislike greatly often with disgust or intolerance; detest.”

When we see sin in our own life or the lives of others, we should loathe it. We should be disgusted by what lives filled with sin looks like. We should want to rid our lives of sin, after all, it is our sins and iniquities that separate us from God (Isa. 59:2). The Psalmist said, “O you who love the Lord, hate evil…” (Psa. 97:10). If we really love God, we will hate those things He finds offensive. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly, we are to love sinners. Let’s just not forget the part about hating sin.

Friends, when we don’t despise and hate sin, we need a new heart.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Feb 29

CYC 2012

Posted on by

Last weekend 43 of us from Karns attended Challenge Youth Conference in Gatlinburg. It was an extremely beneficial weekend for everyone. Personally, I think it was by far the best year overall that I have ever attended. I thought all the speakers did a tremendous job with their lessons and our group devotionals where some of the best time we spent all weekend. As I sit back and reflect on what I hope is a launching pad for a fantastic 2012, I want to share with you some of the quotes that stood out and challenged me over the course of the weekend.

“All the devils apples have worms.”

“We will have to give account for the things we know and for the things we should have known had we been listening.”

“You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.”

“Temptation is a proposal to fulfill a legitimate need in an illegitimate way.”

“The penalty of sin last longer than the pleasures of sin.”

“Not feeling shame doesn’t make something right!”

“Until we decided sin is something detestable, disgusting, something we hate, we are not protected from sin.”

“When we change our mind about what we love and about what we hate, then we can protect ourselves from sin.”

“We can’t have a flirtatious relationship with sin.”

“When what you want is greater than what you fear, you’ve lost the battle with sin.”

“There is nothing I can do to make God love me more; there is nothing I can do to make God love me less.”

“My actions are a measure of my love for God. Can people look at my life and tell I am into God?”

“Two reasons people don’t become Christians: 1) They don’t know any Christians; 2) They know some Christians.”

“Do people praise Jesus because of you?”

“If your friends followed you today, where would you lead them?”

As I said earlier, my life was richly blessed because of CYC ’12. Lord willing, I’m already looking forward to next year.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

Father, thank you for an incredible weekend at CYC. I pray all those who were in attendance will take to heart the challenge that was presented. Help us to be people who truly hate sin and are hooked on you. Lord, please forgive us when we fail you and give in to our desires. Help us become more like your son. In Jesus’ name, Amen!