The Nature of Sin
- Admin
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In “A View from the Zoo,” Gary Richmond, a former zookeeper wrote, “Raccoons go through a glandular change at about twenty-four months. After that they often attack their owners. Since a thirty-pound raccoon can be equal to a one hundred-pound dog in a scrap, I felt compelled to mention the change coming to a pet raccoon owned by a young friend of mine, Julie. She listened politely as I explained the coming danger. I’ll never forget her answer: ‘It will be different for me.’ She smiled and she added, ‘Bandit wouldn’t hurt me, he just wouldn’t.’
“Three months later Julie underwent plastic surgery for facial lacerations when her adult raccoon attacked her for no apparent reason. Bandit was released into the wild.”
Sin, too, often comes dressed in an adorable disguise, and as we play with it, it’s easy for us to say, “It will be different for me.”
I have seen many people destroy their lives, and the lives of their loved ones, through sin, addictions, and bad choices. They often say the same thing as Julie: “It will be different for me.”
I once read a fictional story of a scorpion who asked a beaver one day to take him across the river on his back. “Are you insane?” asked the beaver. “While I’m swimming you’ll sting me and then I’ll drown.”
“Oh, come now,” laughed the scorpion. “Why would I sting you? Then I’d drown too. Come on. Be logical.”
“That makes sense,” said the beaver. “Hop on.” The scorpion climbed on the beaver’s back, but halfway across the river he gave the poor trusting beaver a mighty sting. “Ouch!” yelled the beaver. “Why did you do such a wicked thing? You said yourself there would be no logic in your stinging me.”
“Logic has nothing to do with it,” sighed the scorpion. “It’s just my nature.” And they both sank to the bottom.
Romans 6:23 tells us the nature of sin “is death.” No matter how many times we may say, “It will be different for me,” sin is no respecter of persons. But there is a way out! The rest of Romans 6:23 says: “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus is the only One who can break the chains of sin and death to set us free!
But don’t take my word for it…come see for yourself! If you’re near the Lexington, KY area, Priscilla’s Place Teen Challenge will be at Lexington First Assembly of God on Sunday, March 15th at 10:30 a.m. You are invited to come and witness the changed lives of former addicts as they testify of how they found freedom through Jesus Christ, and learn why the Federal Government recognizes Adult & Teen Challenge as one of the most successful programs in the world for helping hurting people overcome their addictions. For more information, visit www.TeenChallengeKY.com.
Rev. Doug Johnson, Senior Pastor, Lexington First Assembly of God in Lexington, KY.
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