Sin’s Bumper Crop of Rotten Fruit
“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:” (Hosea 8:7)
Sin in a Christian’s life cannot take away salvation, but it can do awful damage to his life and the lives of innocent people he loves. As our verse says, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:” The bad results far outweigh any temporary pleasure.
Possibly the most heartbreaking example of sin’s widespread damage is the story of David and Bathsheba. It is found in 2 Samuel 11. After he killed Goliath, David became a national hero and eventually became king. One evening King David saw a lovely woman bathing on a rooftop. She was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of Israel’s most loyal soldiers. David had Bathsheba sent to his house and committed adultery with her. She became pregnant. Uriah was out on the battlefield at the time.
David tried to hide his sin. He called Uriah home to be with his wife, hoping that people would think the child was Uriah’s. Uriah refused. He didn’t want to enjoy the comforts of home while the troops were in the field. Isn’t that great leadership, by the way?
That plan failed, so David sent Uriah back to the field with a note for Joab, the commander. It was basically Uriah’s death warrant; an order to send Uriah into a danger zone with no backup. Joab followed orders. Uriah was sent into the combat zone and killed. David married Bathsheba. She bore a son. “…But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” (2 Samuel 11:27)
The prophet Nathan confronted David. He told him, “…because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:14) People had to see that sin has a terrible price attached. The child died. That was just the start of a heavy price David would pay for his night of pleasure.
David’s sin cost him, among other things, credibility. He had given ungodly people ammunition to reproach God’s name. David asked God to restore him, and he could regain credibility: “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” (Psalm 51:13)
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) No one is perfect, but a Christian who engages in known sin hurts his credibility to share the gospel. That’s Job #1 for a Christian. Why should people believe Jesus makes a difference in lives if they see no big difference in yours?
The Christian life, the “good fight of faith”, is often a fight against our own sin nature. Yet God provides grace for us. More on that in another essay. Finally, if you want to see how to have your sins eternally forgiven and have a home in heaven, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links”, then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 9/10/2021
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822