There is a three letter word that most of like to ignore. That three letter word is sin. We don’t like to talk about our sin, though we don’t hesitate too often point out someone else’s. Let’s face it, sin is unattractive. It can accumulate like a pile of manure. It contains its own stench. We each have our own pile and we don’t like to point it out or invite people to come view it. If at all possible, we would just as soon ignore the stinky mess. Though it’s impossible to do, we would like to pretend that our sin doesn’t exist. However, we are each born into sin; we are sinners at birth and continue to practice sinful conduct until we leave this earth. On top of all of that, the writer of Hebrews speaks of those sins that “so easily beset us.” It’s not just the obvious rebellious variety of sin that haunts us; it’s the tricky little stuff: The “I didn’t mean to…that wasn’t my intent…Oh, really? I’m sorry” variety. But if our sinfulness creates its own obnoxiousness for us, think about how it affects our relationship with God. The Lord has offered this “colorful” take on our sin: Though your sins be red like crimson…though they be as scarlet… We tend to think of sin as dark, black, etc. But that’s not God’s view. I’m not sure why the Lord chose this color to paint our sin, but when you consider that it takes the color of blood to cover/atone for sin, maybe only one color of red is the only thing that will care for the other color of red. You don’t hear much talk about sin these days. Vance Havner lamented that fact about 40 years ago. If he were alive today, I wonder what he would think. Then there’s the Puritan perspective: Sin is my greatest evil, but thou are my greatest good; I have cause to loathe myself, and to seek self-honor, for no one desires to commend his own dunghill. My country, family, church fare worse because of my sins, for sinners bring judgment in thinking sins are small, or that God is not angry with them. Oh, and forget trying to defend your sinfulness by comparing yourself to someone else. His pile may not be as high, but each pile stinks just as much! Honesty is still the best policy. Admit the sin and confess it to a gracious, forgiving God (I John 1:9). Admit all of it; don’t be selective! As the hymn writer would say, “My sin, not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross, and I bare it no more.” Then he adds, “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord! O my soul.” Now that’s what our view of sin ought to be!

Pastor Megilligan