Reflection
Sin is really not that enjoyable. Achan found that out the hard way. He thought of all the pleasure that the robe, gold wedge, and coins could bring, but in the end, he couldn’t even enjoy them. He hid them under his tent. It’s not like he could show them off to his family and friends with gleaming pride. Why? Because they were ornaments of shame. He had to bury those objects he so desperately lusted after, and in the end, they buried him.
Sin may seem like a good idea at the time. We see something. We lust for it. Just a taste. Just to fulfill a momentary pleasure. We give in. And then we realize what a terrible decision it was. We’re constantly cleaning our tracks, looking over our backs to make sure no one will find out. Why live that kind of life?
As long as there is sin, there will be a hangover. It’s like watching someone so anxious to go out and get drunk, and for the next couple of days, he is in an altered, foggy state of mind, wishing he hadn’t done what he did over the weekend. Sin can do that to us. Sin can make us regret, make us paranoid, impale us, and ultimately destroy us and our family. It leaves us asking, “why did I trade all I had for a momentary, superficial pleasure?”
Christians should have nothing to hide, nothing buried, nothing of shame. We shouldn’t have to put on a different face to go to church; it should be the same one we have on all week. We shouldn’t have to hide who we are because who we are should be the person Christ wants us to be. A Christian should not have two different lifestyles or a heap of sinful pleasures hiding in the closet. Those things will be our ball and chains. Instead, let’s get rid of it. Let’s open up the closet, ask for forgiveness, and throw those sins and secrets out. The freedom that the Holy Spirit gives is so sweet and powerful, that just a taste of it will make us never want to go back.
Prayer
Ask God to forgive any sins you are struggling with. Ask Him to examine you and see if there are any wicked ways. Ask Him for help overcoming and getting rid of those sins in your life. Are there people you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness? Ask the Lord to help you with this.