During my early childhood years, my sister and I had some interesting sibling encounters. But when it comes to averting danger, one experience stands out.
As the older brother, I was often held responsible when things went wrong and ‘encouraged’ to be the example for the younger ones to follow. Well, one day, my parents made lemonade for us and left both of us alone in the kitchen/dining area of the house.
My sister felt that the lemonade wasn’t sweet enough. It needed more sugar. She noticed a white, powdery substance on the floor between the refrigerator and the cabinets and attempted to add it to her drink. The problem was that it was not sugar. It was an insecticide called Sevin, placed there to kill insects and bugs.
I knew this at my age, and I yelled at her to stop and ran to alert our parents of the dangerous situation. They arrived quickly, addressed the matter, removed the insecticide, and, thankfully, due to my heroism, my sister is still with us today.
You and I were born into a world where we are exposed to a toxic and deadly vice called sin. It is all around us, and it is also within our DNA. We were born plagued by sin.
Thankfully, God provided a solution to address our sin condition when Jesus came to earth to die for humanity. Despite this, the presence and effects of sin are still around us.
It behooves us then to understand the gravity of sin’s impact on us, given that it is so serious that Jesus had to die so that we could be free. Furthermore, it is the cause of every problem, be it addictions, crimes, injustice, selfishness, and every human ill. Such a track record renders sin a poison that we must take seriously.
Here are some consequences of sin to be mindful of:
1) It is difficult. Proverbs 13:15 says, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.”
2) It disappoints. Hebrews 11:25 describes the pleasures of sin as only temporary. The aftermath brings regret.
3) It destroys. Galatians 6:8 illustrates the poison-like consequences of sin when it cautions that “he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;”
4) It divides. Ultimately, sin produces physical and spiritual death, which both involve separation. James 1:15 says, “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Remember, sin is toxic and deadly. And it must be treated as such. Its effects are seen all around us and within our nature. Let’s always take it seriously, not mislabel and mishandle it to our own peril.