The battle against sin is as old as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Since then, every person who trod this planet, with the exception of the Lord Jesus Christ, has sinned. Sin stains the pages of scripture. Sin makes headline news everyday. Sin is the topic of gossip when another person fails morally. Educated and uneducated alike struggle with sin. Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Church Christ, Assemblies of God and non denominationals all struggle with sin. Preachers and pew sitters all face the same temptations to rebel against God.
Sometimes sin is fun. That is the reason people do it. Just because it is fun does not make it right or a healthy choice. Sin will cost you. Sin will cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. One decision to eat forbidden fruit in the garden has cost humanity for thousands of years. The tempter will always be ready to entice people to choose sin over choosing submission to God's way. Sometimes people get away with transgressing without suffering immediate consequences. There will be a day of reckoning. A day when God calls people into account. There are other times when people pay the price for practicing sin.
The ultimate consequence is eternal damnation to hell. Any person without a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will suffer eternally when they die or at the glorious appearing of Jesus and the rapture. Those left behind will endure great tribulation. If they never turn to Jesus, they will discover the cost of sin to be horrific. People who die without ever repenting of sin, turning to Jesus as their Redeemer, and trusting Him to be saved will find the high cost of sin a terrible trade for the temporary pleasure they enjoyed. Eternity is a long long time to be wrong.
There are other costs as well. The addict probably did not think one sip, one toke, one shot, or one pill would lead to a life of slavery to substance abuse. The sexually deviant did not think one moment of passion could turn into an unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. One click on the computer or the phone can lead to bondage to debauchery. Even to criminal activity.
The cost of sin included Jesus dying on the cross. I thank God that the grace He offers through His substitutionary death is greater than sin. He forgives sin. Read Ps 103:12 and I Jn 1:9 for a reminder. His grace is greater than the cost of our sin. He is willing to forgive. Praise Him for pardoning people. That does not mean that there might not be consequences. Gal 6:7-8 God will forgive the adulterer, but that does not mean that the spouse will. The act of adultery could cost a person their marriage. God will forgive the embezzler. That does not mean that charges will not be filed and incarceration follow. God will forgive the abusive parents, but that does not mean the children will stay in the home.
Sin will cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. It can also lead you further than you ever wanted to go. Addiction, abuse, theft, rape, murder, abortion, lying and so much more. We best stay prayed up and keep our head on a swivel so that when temptation comes, when sin is crouching at the door ready to pounce on us, Gen 4:7, we must trust that God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness II Pet 1:3 and a way of escape I Cor 10:13. Jesus also has the power set slaves free from sin. Praise God His grace is greater than sin.
