The destructive nature of sin

Sin is not a pleasant subject to dwell on, but what does that word bring quickly to your mind? For some is will be things they wished they hadn’t done/said; for others, the darker episodes of life, even its ultimate penalty. For me, at least more recently, it’s been sin’s hardening effect on one’s heart. We know that sin has fearful consequences for the future, but we may tend to forget that it never stops working in our lives right now. It’s important to realize that every act prompted by our old nature and  carried out by us dulls our sense of how wrong it is. It weakens our ability to resist, and gradually normalizes conduct contrary to the nature of the God we love. Sin is not something that we simply do and then perhaps feel guilty about; it is an alien power bent on destroying all that is good and sacred. Sin is the active expression of Satan at work in a person’s life. His intent is to damage all that God wants to in the life of each of us. Although Satan was fatally wounded at the cross, his continuing influence, sin, is still incredibly powerful.
       I can hear some of you saying, “What’s the point in bringing up such a dark picture? You’ve spoiled my day.”
       Hopefully not. When the corrupt nature of evil becomes increasingly clear the glorious nature of life in Christ becomes all the more glorious. Light a match on a dark night out in the woods and you would think someone had just turned on a bright spotlight. It is darkness that amplifies the light.  When this metaphor is applied to life it helps in understanding why the sinner who has gone deeper  into the world of darkness experiences even more vividly the beauty of God’s redemptive work. The loving act of the sinful woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears was all the more notable because it took place in the context of a tight-lipped Pharisee offended by Jesus’ forgiveness of the repentant sinner (Luke 7:36-50).
       I am not suggesting that there is some sort of advantage in sinning. That is – you will appreciate forgiveness more if it is a context of even greater sin. I’m simply pointing out that the two options before us in life are dramatically different –– Sin is black, righteousness is the bright light of heaven. It is even brighter when seen over against the dark nature of evil.  That’s where we are to fix our gaze.