THE DECADENCE OF WRONGDOING

Like poison dissolving in liquid, consuming the entire contents that it is poured in, so sin consumes the lives of those that are affected by it. Some much more serious than others. For a season in our lives sin masquerades itself to us behind the mask of fun and tolerance. It’s consequences however,  can affect the innocent as well as the guilty. It affects the person who commits it and can draw others into it as well. Sin is any act that violates the perfect will and Glory of God by transgressing or breaking His divine law offending His Holy nature. Sin originated in the heart of a created being named Lucifer. That sin entered the human world through the first woman Eve and then the first man Adam. The word of God teaches in Romans 5:13 that because of that (their) sin, death was passed to every man and woman, for that all have sinned. Romans 3:23 also tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and if anyone says that he has not sinned, he is a liar and the truth is not in him. Sin has strong consequences as well as a mortal penalty. Mankind today still lives with the consequences of the first sin. God’s word also warns that in the end times sin will increase and people will become lovers of themselves and deny the truth. As time has gone by slowly but surely mankind has become less and less sensitive to sin in them and around them. Many have traded truth for lies and they tolerate things that they once knew were wrong for the sake of keeping peace with those that disagree. What they once looked upon as “sin”, they now look upon as their “right of personal choice”. They have slowly renamed sin to fit their own lifestyle and preferences. They indulge in something that may be wrong but when it is embraced as something suitable, then, it is more easily accepted. When you hear the word decadent, most of us automatically think about indulging in some delicious chocolate dessert. However, the very word decadent means,  being in a state of self-indulgent, decline or decay, marked by unrestrained gratification, morally corrupt, and those are just the adjectives to describe it. When used as a noun, it means a person in a condition or process of mental or moral decay. More than ever before we are living in the day where our society is moving ever closer, into the process of sinful decadence or maybe I should say, the decadence of wrongdoing, which will slowly but surely end in moral decay.

The word sin today has become so distorted, abused and debased that it seems to have less and less impact on how and what people think about it. For some people, sin has become simply a phrase, that has no emotional or intellectual force behind it. For others, it’s almost a joke. Songs have been written about sin that insinuates and implies, that you are not part of the “IN CROWD” unless you are doing it. While the word sin may be losing its impact these days, the word crime seems to have far greater effect on people. Crime is much more visible and we hear more about it on T.V. every day. It is largely recognized, because they are acts or laws that are broken and committed against us. Not us breaking the law.  It’s one thing when we sin ourselves, but an entire different story when someone sins against us by committing a crime that affects us.  As a matter of fact, crime concerns us so much that it forces us to seek extra security all around us. We arm our cars and homes with monitored alarm systems, stronger locks on our doors that in many ways can provide us with a false security. Yet with them, we feel somewhat better about the protection and security they provide for us and our families.  If allowed the fear of crime can consume us and cause us to be under the subjection of it. Sin is the same way! Sin holds man under its authority. It is a living, active, forceful and dynamic power that has man under its sway. This means that he is under the power of it, in subjection to it, under the control of, or dependent upon sin, just like an addiction. We cannot escape its power, within our own strength. For it is stronger than we are, to overcome it as a whole. For our world to ever get better, we must once again look upon sin as though we look upon crime and do everything in our power to protect ourselves and our families from it.

Sin is universal, and perhaps this is one reason why the term is so frequently ignored. So many people are sinning so frequently, that to them, it is just a way of life. It is acceptable because everyone is doing it. Sin has titanic and often unrealized effects. Knowing this should cause us to guard ourselves against it even more strongly than we do against crime. Crime itself is simply sin. The Bible refers to sin as “all wrongdoing”. It always amazes me how people will get bent out of shape over crime, yet they will no longer tolerate the commands of God to be held true and taught to their children in this country. For those that understand the effects of sin, they keenly know that crime cannot be conquered a part from teaching truth and holding each other accountable for it.  While you may not can see sin as what it is, you can always recognize it at work; the after effects of it! We can bury our heads all day long in this country and call sin anything we want to. But I must tell you that our society will never be safer, until we raise a higher standard for ourselves, our children, our homes, our churches, our schools and our government. And may I conclude that until we decide to call all wrongdoing what it is and stop compromising for the sake of tolerance, our children will only continue to see their future through the eyes of crime and fear. Yes, there will always be wrongdoing as long as this earth continues….however, it is very possible to enjoy seasons of peace and my friend, we sure need some of that!

Loving On You Today!

Bren