“Laura, you did it again! I thought you said last time was the last time? What happened?”
We’ve all been there. The internal struggle between knowing what’s right and succumbing to temptation. It’s a constant battle, a war waged within the depths of our souls. This familiar ‘me to me’ conversation is a reminder of our human weakness. We often find ourselves caught in a cycle of sin, repentance, and repeated failure.
We know what we should do, but often find ourselves slipping into patterns of sin. It's a frustrating cycle that can leave us feeling defeated and discouraged.
Let's explore three key truths about sin:
3 Things you need to know about sin
Sin affects everyone
The truth is, we are born into sin. By the time we arrived, sin had already started running riot. Sin, weaves its way through every part of our human existence. It infiltrates our families, communities, and individual hearts. We see its destructive power in broken relationships, social injustice, and personal struggles.
While the reality of sin can be disheartening, it's important to remember that we're not alone in this battle. No matter how perfect the lives of those around us may seem, whether they're influencers on social media or respected leaders in our churches, we must remember that everyone struggles with sin.
Even those who appear to have it all together struggle with sin. As Paul expressed in Romans 7, "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." This honest reflection reveals that even a devoted apostle like Paul was not immune to the power of sin.
You aren’t strong enough to fight sin alone
We are living in the middle of a war, one that started in heaven. When faced with temptation, we often underestimate its power, treating it lightly. We get confident and proud, go full force onto the battle field only to be struck down, again.
Sin is the devils territory. It’s his domain. He also doesn’t like to play fair. He watches your moves, observes your character and analyses your weaknesses. Like a competent chess player, he anticipates your next move. He aims to back you into a corner, leaving you completely defenceless.
Despite knowing how serious this spiritual warfare is, we often rely on our own strength and strategies. Our human efforts however, are insufficient to overcome sin. The Bible, God's inspired Word, reveals the true source of victory: Jesus Christ.
That leads me to my last point:
Sin has a cure
There is hope in Jesus, the light of the world.
Did you know, before sin even entered the world, God knew that if He were to create beings that had complete freewill to do whatever they wanted, that there would be a chance they would rebel against Him.
If that happened, He knew He would have to have a plan in place to save His creation that He loved so much. The solution was risky and also heart wrenching. But nothing would stop God from carrying it out if He had to.
And if you haven’t noticed, the wonderful creation He so loved, (us,) did rebel. But God was not worried. He knew that although life would be rough for some time. Hope was already on its way.
The solution, the sacrifice of His Son, was both costly and necessary. And so, when humanity rebelled, God's plan of redemption was set in motion.
I wanted to write this blog post because today was a hard day. Today, temptation hit me in the face and I thought, as I stupidly do, that I was big, brave, bold and strong enough to overcome it. I was so wrong.
As I reflected on my experience, a quote I recently saw crossed in my mind: "If it breaks God's heart, why do you think it will fulfil yours?" This sobering truth was a reminder of the pain and emptiness that sin brings. Yet, even in our darkest moments, there is hope.
If you, like me, have fallen short of God's standards, remember that you are not alone. We are all sinners by nature. But there is hope: God desires to restore us and redeem our lives. Don’t let the devil win by running away from the very One who’s desire is to save you from sin. Instead, turn to God, the God who can heal your broken heart and set you free.
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