Try as I may there is one thing I simply cannot stop doing: sinning. I can wake up with all the resolve in the world, but it isn’t very long before I can rack up sin #1. Than sin #2. Then sin #3. Ad infinitum. Ad nauseum. Romans 3: 23 haunts me more than i want to think about. I fall short of God’s holy standard.
When I used to talk to young people about coming to Christ, I used to describe sin like a person pole-vaulting. His goal is to get over the bar. The pole vaulter gets set, runs down the track, plants the pole and doesn’t go over it. He might come up way short. He might knock the bar down. But unless he clears it, he is disqualified.
Sin is like that. Disqualifying us. Now, there are three approaches we can take:
- We can deny the evidence. You know…never admit sin. I believe that is called blindness and arrogance.
- We can wallow in our guilt and shame. Been there, done that. The reality of sin overwhelms us. This is especially true of repetitive sin.
- In our grief and brokenness, we can come to the only One who can forgive us. The choice: flee or come. Run to God or run away. Why would anyone want to run away from the only One who could bring peace and relief?
“Father, I know I sin every day. Instead of denying or hiding, help me to always run to You.”
I love the pole-vaulting example. Great post and it’s good to know that I am in good company. Oh, how we need our Savior. Thank You, Jesus!
Thanks Diane. I used that with the kids because I could understand it too! 🙂 Glad you are up and around. And yes, we do need the Savior.
I have to agree with Diane that your pole vaulting example is really on target, Bill, and explains sin so simply. Yes, when we sin, we need to run to God, not away from Him.
Blessings!
(Great sermon yesterday!)
Thanks Martha for the comment on the post. And thank you so much for the kind words about the sermon.
Sin is an ugly thing, no doubt. I have been listening to an audiobook by Craig Groschel:
https://www.craiggroeschel.com/books/winning-the-war-in-your-mind
I am not through with it, but what I have listened to (up to CH 4) has been so good.
Craig talks about the replacement principle, which I interestingly, I have heard in various sermons and podcasts over the last couple weeks.
God can’t fill us if we are not empty, but the same is true in regards to Satan. He can’t get in when there isn’t any room.
It isn’t enough to simply remove sin from my life… I have to replace it. I have to fill it with God.
Over the couple weeks I have been working to add something new every day. I am squeezing myself for time and having to make decisions on what I am going to remove.
I have had to get creative in regards to where and when to add more. Perhaps it is replacing my walking music which has a nice cadence and exchange it for a podcast or audiobook. Perhaps it is trading in an extra hour of sleep for a more time in the morning. Perhaps it is taking the end of my work day and instead of transitioning back to family time so quickly, I watch another Bible Project Video…
Bottom line… If I have spare time… I am trying to fill it with things of God vs my own wants and desires… and you know what… something strange is happening. I am getting excited again about spending time in the Bible, about learning something new, about rebuilding a relationship that I have let stagnate.
Do things still slip in… absolutely, I am not perfect. I still need Jesus. But… There is less room to take that sin and turn it into more.
Craig mentions Satan has two tactics…
When we are doing well… Satan will whisper something to the effect of “see you are not all that bad… you don’t really need that extra time with God”… and wham, the lies take over and fill our empty spaces…
On the other hand, when we mess up… No lets call it what it is… When we SIN… Satan whispers in our ear and tells us how much of a failure we are and there is no way that God could love us….
Satan is such a deceiver… and a punk and just needs to be throat punched… Yup… I went there.
Thankful for a forgiving and loving God that is willing to look past my sin and fill me with His Hope and Grace.
What a great and information-filled comment Ryan. Thanks for the great advice and to also open a window to your world/struggle. I have that book and started reading it but put it aside for others. Sounds like I need to get back to it.
i like this emphasis on going right to God with all that’s true about us … even if it’s ugly or disappointing or sad.
He already knows anyway, doesn’t he …
Yes He does Linda. How much better it would be if we would simply go to Him, lay it all out there, and then know He will show His grace.