Back in my high school days, I and a couple of buddies of mine were sitting around one night with nothing to do so we dared each other to harass my elderly neighbor, Chuck Coons.
First, we called him on his telephone, played some eerie music in the background, then said, “Tonight you die!” Next came the BIG challenge: “Who will sneak up onto his front porch and light a firecracker?” I agreed to the dastardly crime — and he came out with a .38, shot it in the air, then shouted out: “Whoever you are, the next one’s for you!”
Now I ask you, why did we do this? Mr. Coons was a wonderful, kind neighbor — certainly undeserving of such antics. I wish I could say that was the only mischievous act of my youth. There are, unfortunately, too many other such tales I could tell on myself! Why did we do these sorts of things? Lots of reasons come to mind…
Here’s the bottom line reason: We do mischievous things, harmful things, stupid things because that is our bent as humans, young and old alike. This is evidence of what the Bible calls sin. Sinning is doing things contrary to our Creator’s moral standards as revealed in His Word, the Bible. It’s a fact virtually nobody denies: everybody’s doin’ it!
The late Dr. Bill Bright put together a wonderful little booklet called “The Four Spiritual Laws” (now called “Would You Like To Know God Personally?”). A few pages into the booklet, Romans 3:23 is cited then explained: “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
“People were created to have fellowship with God; but because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion [defying God] or passive indifference [I don’t know — and I don’t really care], is what the Bible calls sin.”
Sin is clearly not just “kid’s stuff” — we all do it! The horrific consequence of sin is physical and spiritual death: “For the wages [result] of sin is death” — referring to an earthly lifetime of disconnect from God then an eternity in complete isolation from Him — and everything, everyone we know and love. Add to this the terrrors of eternal, inescapable torment and things are very grim indeed — all because of personal sin!
Fortunately for us sinners, Jesus took the penalty of our sins upon Himself on the cross — and in exchange freely gives us His righteousness the moment we recognize our need for forgiveness and by faith receive Him as Savior:
- “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
- “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9.
So you see, sin is not just kid’s stuff — it’s very much alive and well in all of us — and it needs to be forgiven! Have you, personally, received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life? What in life could even remotely compare to a new life in Christ; to forgiveness and power to live for God and with God the rest of your days?