Christians never set out to be caught in scandalous sin.
The pastor never set out to have an adulterous affair. The member of his church first came to see him after her close friend had died. She came for counselling to help her grieve.
They cried together and hugged and made another appointment.
At the next appointment, the pastor held her hand – he thought it would be a comfort – and when she left, after they made another appointment, they hugged again and shared a quick kiss. Meanwhile the pastor himself was feeling stressed out and undervalued; finally, there was someone who really appreciated his ministry.
The church appointments became home visits. The hugs lingered. The kissing increased. And they ended up sleeping together.
Until one day, her husband arrived home early.
Neither she, nor the minister, intended committing scandalous sin. But because of a series of small compromises, sin snowballed, as it always does, and caused spiritual ruin – not to mention broken families, broken relationships and a broken church.
We hear stories like this way too often.
Dear Christian, we are called to conquer and kill sin. We are called, as God’s people, to stand firm against temptation and the devil’s lies. We are called to do battle against lust, pride and discontentment. This is not just an earthly battle; our battle has earthly and spiritual consequences.
Compromise with sin leads to ruin – every time.
A porn addiction starts with one click, an affair starts with a cup of coffee, a drug addiction starts with one high.
Sin may be snowballing for you right now.
Kill it. Turn from it. Turn to God.
Kill sin before sin kills you.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
(Isaiah 55:6-7)