Articles
Sin Destroys
Sin can become a torrential tsunami that destroys everything and everyone in its path. There's no way around it: sin is destructive, even self-destructive.
Several years ago I held a gospel meeting in another state. It had been a great week in which I left with much more than I gave. One evening one of the elders and his wife took me out to supper. I had been with this congregation a few years before and really connected with this one elder. He was highly respected, not only locally, but afar as well. He was likeable. Easy to talk too. Easy to connect with. By all appearances, he was also a very successful businessman.
I had not been home but a few days and received word he had taken his own life. Everyone in his family, church family, and all who knew him were in disbelief. His family and church family were devastated. What could have been so bad that he would do this? Also, no one had any indication that his state of mind had deteriorated to this level and that he was in such danger to himself. There was nothing so bad that it could not be fixed with time and mercy. But not in his mind. Where he was at mentally and emotionally, he saw no way out.
Also, I had a very good friend who was a counselor. I asked him for advice on several occasions. He took his own life, also. All who knew him were devastated.
I am not going to debate all the ins and outs of all the particulars. Nor am I going to try to explain all of this. I will tell you these two men are not alone. I have known of others, even recently, that have made the same choice. That does not make it right, but it does underscore something very serious we need to consider. Before we get on our high horse and begin to condemn and shake our finger at those who have chosen this path, remember, we do not know what we would do in the given circumstances. Oh, we say we wouldn’t do that. But how many who have said they would not do that - have done it.
What I want to think about is the harmful effects of sin beyond eternity. I want to think about the effects of sin personally. Sin is devastating, so that the one who finds himself engrossed sees no way out. Overwhelmed with sorrow, grief, guilt, embarrassment, shame, and the knowledge of those who will be hurt leaves one so empty there is nothing to live for. There is no answer to the sin that has engrossed their life. My counselor friend told me that he would say to his patients, “It is permanent solution to a temporary problem.”
Sin is ugly, ugly, and uglier. But that is not all there is to be said. Forgiveness is beautiful, beautiful, and even more beautiful! Forgiving oneself is the hardest thing to do. God will forgive, and others hopefully will forgive, but forgiving oneself is hard.
Rest assured, though: there is more to be gained because of forgiveness than being so overwhelmed with sin that despair sees no way out. Forgiveness shows the path to healing. Forgiveness shows the path to reconciliation. Forgiveness shows the path to a future. Forgiveness shows the path to self-confidence and self-worth. Forgiveness shows us that God really does love us enough to give His only Son, so that we can have the opportunity of salvation. If Christ did not die, we would die. He died so we could live.
Yes, sin is great. It is ugly. But God’s love is greater. His grace is more powerful. His mercy is greater than guilt and shame. Ultimately God wants to glorify us. Let Him work the work He can accomplish in us (Eph. 3:20). He that began that good work will complete it (Phil. 1:6). "Let Him have His way with thee" (Cyrus S. Nusbaum).
Rickie Jenkins
