Three Difficult Truths About You That Your Sin Reveals
For a little minute, I'd like to discuss sin. I want you to evaluate sin in a new light, possibly in a manner you have never considered it previously. I'm about to explain three facts about you that sin exposes about you. I admit that these realities may be painful, but they will ultimately help you see your sin differently and maybe deal with temptation more successfully if you embrace them.
What Kind of Sin Am I Referring To?
For the sake of this discussion, I'd want to divide sin into two categories:
1. Sin of Reaction
Reactionary sin is sin that occurs in the heat of the moment. This occurs instantly and is something you could not anticipate. Allow me to provide a case of reactionary sin
I once leased a car that was a little older and had endured the rental car hardships. There was some damage to the car, but the salesperson told me that it would not be an issue when I hired it. After I started my trip, I found the car had some technical difficulties, and I chose to exchange it at a different place than where I hired it, as I was almost halfway through my trip. When I approached the desk, they attempted to assist me but then informed me that they would charge me for the car's damage, which was not indicated on the rental contract. At that moment, I became enraged and did not talk to the rental agent in such a friendly manner.
I reacted to what was occurring at the time, and my response was inappropriate. I had no intention of responding in this manner prior to my arrival, but I became swept up in the moment. We have all had times when our behavior did not reflect Jesus Christ, and mine did not on that particular day. Typically, these situations result in conviction and repentance, which I experienced.
However, this is not the sort of sin I am referring about. I'd want to concentrate on the second type of sin.
2. Sin That Was Pre-Meditated
This is exactly what it sounds like: sin that you considered, probably even planned, before to partaking in it. This is not an impulsive reaction, but deliberate actions. For instance, a person does not suddenly decide to cheat on his or her spouse. They consider it, contemplate it, and then delight in it. This is what James is referring to when he says this:
"However, each individual is seduced when drawn away and persuaded by their own bad desire. Then, when desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when fully developed, gives birth to death" (James 1:14-15).
When you commit this form of sin, you have deliberated over it and made the choice to commit the evil act. To be clear, premeditated does not mean you planned it for an extended period of time; it just means you considered it before to doing and chose to act nevertheless. Consider three things that this form of sin indicates about you.
Three Insights Premeditated Sin Provides about Your Personality1. You Do Not Have Faith in God
To illustrate this idea, I will return to one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, the narrative of Adam and Eve. Permit me to remind you of God's counsel to them.
"And the Lord God instructed the man, 'You may eat from any tree in the garden; but, you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for you will undoubtedly die if you eat from it'" (Genesis 2:16-17).
To refresh your memory, here is what Adam and Eve did a short time later.
"When the lady discovered that the fruit of the tree was nutritious, attractive to the sight, and also beneficial for obtaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. Additionally, she gave some to her husband, who was present, and he ate it" (Genesis 3:6).
I want you to consider why they chose to consume the fruit. They ate it since it looked appetizing and they felt as though they were missing something. They felt that God was withholding blessings from them. When they ate the fruit, they were communicating to God that they did not trust him. Each time we commit premeditated sin, we are communicating to God that we do not trust him.
You'd think this was the only tree in the yard that produced visually appealing and edible fruit, but it wasn't. Consider the following text from Genesis 2.
"The Lord God caused a variety of plants to sprout out of the ground - trees that were aesthetically appealing and nutritious.." (Genesis 2:9).
God had abundantly supplied fruit, yet it was insufficient. When we commit sin, we are communicating to God that what you have given or provided for me is insufficient; I require more.
Whoever cheats on their marriage communicates to God, "I don't trust the one you given me; I need more." Whoever is dishonest with their taxes is communicating to God, "I have lost faith in your capacity to give." A liar does not think that the truth will set them free. Regardless of the premeditated offense, when you do it and act contrary to what you know God has taught you to do, you are communicating to God that you lack faith in him.
2. You Are Unconvinced of God's Existence
The second statement made by your premeditated sin is that you do not believe God. The reality is that all sin has repercussions. Adam and Eve's transgression had repercussions, and they were aware of those consequences prior to eating the fruit. Nonetheless, they ate the fruit. Even if the snake tricked Eve, the fact that they chose to eat the fruit indicates that they did not trust what God said.
We seldom consider sin in this light, particularly premeditated sin. The fact is that the majority of individuals engage in premeditated sin because they feel they will not be detected. They are aware that what they are doing is wrong, yet they continue to do it in the hope that no one will ever find out. What God has declared in his word is as follows.
"There is nothing concealed that will remain secret, or anything hidden that will remain unknown. What you say in the dark will be heard in the day, and what you whisper in the inner chambers will be announced from the rooftops" (Luke 12:2-3).
To those who engage in premeditated sin and continue to do so, Jesus is stating that what they do in the dark will ultimately come to light. Those who remain in sin simply do not believe this. No matter how well you conceal your tracks, if you continue to live a life of premeditated wickedness, you will ultimately be discovered. Those who persist in spite of this just do not believe what God has spoken.
3. You Are Not a God-Fan
Perhaps the most vexing aspect of this is this one. Individuals who commit premeditated sin are saying God at that time, "I don't love you." I understand it is a difficult statement to make, but consider these words from Jesus.
"Whoever obeys my commandments is the one who loves me.." (John 14:21).
We display our love for Jesus by carrying out his commands. When we choose to sin, we are essentially saying to God, "I don't love you right now." I am aware that these statements are painful, and that we seldom tie our obedience to our love for God, but Jesus did.
To return to an earlier example, I have heard spouses who cheat claim, "I know this is bad, but I still love my husband." My reaction is - really! Can you genuinely claim to love your spouse while cheating on them? That is not the definition of love. You may not want to hear that, but you are not displaying love in that time. Likewise, when you choose to sin against God, the same is true. When you choose to commit sin, you are communicating to God that you do not love him.
What Are We Going to Do With This?
My intention in writing this is not to condemn you, and I really hope you do not feel that way. However, if you are living a bad lifestyle, this should prompt you to repent. My earnest objective is to assist you in comprehending what sin is, what it symbolizes, and why we must do all possible to avoid it. If we can recognize when we choose to sin as a reflection of the strength of our connection with Jesus, perhaps we can reconsider our choices and make better ones.
If you truly wish to trust God, believe in God, and love God, you must make every effort – with the assistance of the Holy Spirit – to avoid sin at all costs. This may force you to flee some circumstances, isolate yourself from certain people, or let up of certain possessions. However, if you sincerely desire to avoid sin in your life, you will go to any length to do so because your connection with God is that essential to you. Your attitude and actions toward sin will tell everything you need to know about the true significance of that connection in your life.