WHY SIN IS UNREASONABLE

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2)

Devotion 21 of 23

SIN DEFILES THE MIND AND THE CONSCIENCE

The mind and the conscience are precious resources. With our minds we serve either God or Satan. With our consciences we develop a sense of right and wrong, thereby enabling us to establish priorities of life. If these resources become defiled, our service becomes corrupted, and we are rendered incapable of distinguishing righteousness from unrighteousness. As it is written, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled" (Tit 1:15). Anything that yields fruit like this is unreasonable!

Brings Pleasures Only for a Season

Sin offers pleasant fruit, but its pleasantry is short-lived. Transgression is enjoyable, but not for long! Moses saw this reality and elected to experience disadvantage with God's people, rather than revel with the children of the wicked one. "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb 11:25). It is unreasonable for a personality made in the image of God to seek things that do not last. Those who can be made suitable for eternity greatly error in being dominated by a quest for temporal things. Sin is unreasonable.

Erodes our capacity to appropriate salvation

Sin has debilitating affects. No person can sin with impunity, i.e., without experiencing the results of sin. One of the grievous fruits of transgression is found in its erosion of spiritual sensibilities. If not corrected, it eventually leads men to a state from which recovery is not possible! Mark these words, and mark them well. "Therefore THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them" (John 12:39-40). Anything that renders a person incapable of believing God is unreasonable--and that is precisely what sin does!

PRAYER POINT: Father, grant me grace, in Jesus' name, to keep a sensitive heart and a willing spirit, diligently avoiding involvement in debilitating sin.

-- TOMORROW: SIN BLINDS HEARTS AND MINDS --