I grew up during the time when people first started saying, “God is dead”. Prayers that were said in schools, stopped. Things which had been taught as immoral, unnatural, and sinful, began to be called “diseases”, “in-born” and “natural”. “Sin” was changed or omitted from the vocabularies of young people. People are now becoming more concerned about political correctness than Godliness, righteousness. The attacks on faith in God, and trusting His Word have become the clarion call of many professors in our universities. The promotion of evolution, and humanism is being injected in students eager to learn, and better prepare themselves for life.
Some may say, “Well, all that talk of “God”, “Creation” “Right and Wrong”, is just old fashioned.” “Man is evolving!” To this I say, after two world wars, a Korean War, Viet Nam, Iraqi War, etc…. we should know mankind is not EVOLVING, and certainly not morally!
The fact is God is the Designer of the Universe, His Son is “The Supreme Scientist”.
When we break (or get broken) by God’s laws, we sin. John says, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness” (I John 3:4). What did Paul mean by “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”? (Romans 6:23). What did he mean by “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”? (Romans 6:23). We all sin, but what happens when we do? What dies when we sin? Isaiah says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, ¶so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). Sin, separates us from God, we die spiritually.
DEATH TO INNOCENCE: To do things which are right, is good, but to do things that are wrong, destroys innocence to that thing. Sin brings a dark feeling of guilt, and wrongness. Teens may hide it from parents, and others, but they like all people cannot hide from themselves. Sin makes someone get up and look in the mirror, and say, “I HATE YOU!” Man’s law may never catch up with a person who sins, but we get ‘caught’ inside. Yes forgiveness is offered through Jesus, but the innocence is gone.
DEATH TO IDEALS: When sin rules a person’s life, it begins the erosion of the standards, and ideals that were held. Compromising and rationalizing begin. Lying and stealing begin to be gauged by degrees. This where the “white lie” came from. One young man wore a tee shirt which read, “Death to Virginity” on it, but with this comes the death of morals, and convictions, and conscience.
DEATH TO THE WILL: Over time, a person slips down into gross sin. It is a step by step process. A minister counseled a church member, who was outgoing and had a good reputation. The path she had chosen had eventually led her into a life of prostitution. No one knew about this ‘lifestyle’ nor the pain in her heart.
The minister spoke kindly to her about falling into Satan’s trap of selling herself to others. She said, “If you had called me a prostitute three years ago, I would have slapped your face. Now it’s true and I am so ashamed”.
“How did this evil thing happen to you, how did you get where you are today?” I asked. Her statement was simple — “Step by step!” First were bad companions that brought death to innocence, Then the gradual erosion of ideals and goals to live a good life. Finally, the I lost my will to turn back.”
Whatever happened to sin? It’s still here… just ‘dressed up a bit’. Jesus came to deal with sin by giving his own life for ours. Where sin has gone, God’s grace IS.