Lie No. 13: I Can Sin And Get Away With It

What is sin? In my own words, I would define sin as any thought or action, whether voluntary or involuntary, that violates God's expectation of perfection in even the slightest degree. Obviously, we are all guilty of this. We accept the fact that we are human and that we are destined to fail. We will never be perfect. But has that acceptance of our inability to be perfect led to a belief that we don't even have to try anymore?

God never said to stop trying. He knows we will never be perfect. He knows we will always continue to sin. But it is that perpetual failing that brings us back to our knees every single time in humble submission to the one who can make it right again. It is that very sin that allows God's grace to shine through. If we didn't sin, we would not need his forgiveness and grace. But, in that same accord, the reason we are brought to humility through our sin is because we were aiming for something better and failed. If we're not trying to be better, then we will not be surprised or disappointed when we fail. We should never be satisfied with anything less than perfection. And since we will never reach perfection this side of eternity, we should never be fully satisfied with our actions here on this earth.

I think it is when we become content in simply being a sinner by definition that we stop even noticing the sin in our lives. We become so accustomed to it that we don't even acknowledge that it's sin. It's just what humans do. God doesn't really expect me to be any different does he? And what harm does it really do? Everyone loses their temper sometimes. No one really has perfect eating habits. The music I listen to in the car doesn't have that much of an impact on me, does it? We just excuse most of the sin in our lives away with the fact that we're human and that's just what humans do. And as long as our lives aren't being turned upside down like Job's, we just assume that those "little" sins have no real affect on our lives.

"Most people simply don't make the connection between their natural, fleshly choices and the consequences in their lives, their marriages, their children, their health, and their relationships with God and others." p. 96

Just because we're not doing something that is outright sinful, or just because we don't seem to see any real consequences to our sin doesn't mean that it is any less significant. We can choose to live our lives just getting by or we can choose to be the best possible version of ourselves, never settling for anything less than perfection. Remember, you will never be perfect, but that shouldn't keep you from trying.

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" Revelation 3:15-16