John 10:10 begins with "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. . ." I thought of these words when faced with recent situations that reveal the ugliness of sin. These stories brought tears to my eyes and caused me to cry out to God in prayer. Isn't it sad that often sin is camouflaged enough to appear pleasant and inviting, but occasionally we are exposed to sin's true ugliness? Sin batters and bruises its victims and yet they return for more. Caught in sin's ugly grasp, the sinner is powerless to escape unless a Rescuer reaches down to deliver them. Yes, the Rescuer (our Savior) does the delivering, not the sinner.
My heart is saddened to see the broken relationships, the lies, the hatred and the addictions that are the product of sin. If I had to select an image representing sin, I think I would have to choose a side-by-side comparison of a beautiful young woman. This woman is attractive enough to be a model, but the comparison picture shows a face that is unrecognizable. The face has been marred by mere months of addiction to meth. The once-beautiful skin is marred by acne, several teeth are missing, the hair is unkempt. You may have seen photos like this at The Faces of Meth.
My heart hurts for those suffering from sin's ugliness. I know sin's grasp and am not completely out of it's reach until I reach Heaven. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit indwelling me and guiding and convicting me. Too often I've ignored that still small whisper and lived to regret it. Regarding sin, A.W. Pink says: Wherein lies its fearful potency? Why, in its power to deceive us. It
lies to us. It did so to Adam and Eve. It gives us false estimates of
values so that we mistake the tinsel for real gold. To be saved from the
power of sin, is to have our eyes opened so that we see things in God’s
light: it is to know the truth about things all around us, and the
truth about ourselves. Satan has blinded the minds of them that believe
not, but the Holy Spirit hath shined in our hearts "unto the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor.
4:4, 6).
As you know, John 10:10 doesn't end with the destruction of the thief, but finishes with "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Friend, are you living in the midst of sin's ugliness or enjoying Christ's abundant life?
