Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
Sin is Exhausting
“…so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway.” (Gen 19:11)
Sin is a tiresome thing. It wore David out trying to hide his sin with Bathsheba. It wore Samson out fending off the wiles of Delilah. It wore Saul out trying to hold onto power and control.
In the above-quoted verse, the people of Sodom were blinded by the angels, but before that, sin had already blinded their hearts. They were physically exhausted from pursuing sin.
Sodom thought sin would gratify them, but all it did was wear them out. How true that still is. Today’s culture says that their ever-growing infatuation with sexual sin is about being “free” and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, the more we chase sin, the less happy we become. It’s a lie that the devil feeds us, and we’ve bought it hook, line, and sinker.
“For you [Laodiceans] say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Rev 3:17)
The Laodiceans believed the world would give them everything they wanted and make them whole, but Jesus saw the true picture of a people worn out, used up, and left destitute by sin.
Decadence, comfort, and self-indulgence were poor masters for Laodicea, and they have not served us well, either. The more we embrace the pursuit of personal gain at all costs, the more we lose the things that matter, like character, work ethic, honesty, and servant hearts.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Notice that the lion prowls before he roars. The roar only happens once the prey is close enough to be frozen by the noise. The devil will stalk you long before he announces his presence. Sin creeps into our lives through small, seemingly innocuous compromises with the world. A little selfishness, a little indulgence, a small ignoring of our conscience… these things pave the road until one day we wake up with a hunger for sin that is insatiable and wearying.
Sin will take everything from you – your friends, your marriage, your children, your job, your joy, your hope, and eventually… your soul. The only hope for the sinner (which is all of us!) is to give up trying to feed the beast and turn to the Master instead.
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
If you are caught up in a cycle of sin – seek help. Call the shepherds, reach out to me, find a close faithful friend to confide in and pray for you. Use the tools Jesus gives you to get out of the devil’s claws.
