We have all been there. Standing in the mirror, looking at ourselves, and asking ourselves the same question: “Why did I do that?”
Some of us may take the time to investigate our motives. But even after getting at the heart of the problem, we still find ourselves back at the mirror. We never know our motives, and that just makes the mirror a frustrating place to be. Still, we all can agree that every time we come back to the mirror we can see the damage of our decisions in our eyes. Jaded. Suspicious. Hurt. Mistrusting. Dying. And that is what sin is. Sin is the inescapable, unavoidable death we see in the mirror. Sin is the reality that I can keep coming back to the mirror all I want, but I can never change what it shows me.
We have an ugly habit of thinking the best of ourselves; and quite frankly, that habit is the basis for the worst of our problems. In the beginning, humankind was without sin. But the desire to think the best of ourselves ushered sin into the world. When Satan tempted Eve in the garden to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he tempted her by convincing her that God was holding back the best. Satan said, “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). The ugliness that followed was death. And not just death for Eve and her husband Adam but all those who came after them.
We all have sinned, still sin, and will continue to sin. And sin enslaves. We know it enslave because it is sin that keeps driving us back to the mirror to ask ourselves the same question, “Why did I do that?” In John 8:34, Jesus says it like this, “Truly, truly, I say to you everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” As humans we are finite in both will and ability. Essentially, we have absolutely no ability to free ourselves from the slavery sin causes; nor do we have the full capacity to desire to be free from sin. Paul says, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18).
The very real reality is that even though we are incapable of stopping ourselves from sin, there is a part of us that wants to sin.
But there is good news. Jesus has come!
I see myself getting into a depressive rute not able to break my patterns. Even though I know that God has given me an out.
Idolatry and comparison keeps my focus on others and myself rather than God. Sin has impacted my physical health, leading me to live with daily discomfort and unable to play with my children like I want to. Selfishness and stubbornness puts stress on our marriage at times, impacting our desire to love/serve each other. We are all so quick to judge – so much negativity in a time when people are anxious or terrified as we argue and insult rather than focus on serving. Prejudice results in more judgement, murder, and even more hatred. Sin may be huge and obvious but can also start as a little wedge between people that eventually causes huge divisions. When people are pushed away from each other, the desire or ability to love, serve, and obey God’s commands is lost.
Yes, the sin of selfishness, impatience, greed & gossip. I have seen how those sins impacted me and how I get into a viscus circle of not being to stop myself. I fall into what Paul speaks about, "For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18). It’s sin that impacts everyone around me directly and indirectly. I become more self centered and less focus on God and doing his will. I worry more about me and less about others. It causes tension, anger, mistrust and a wedge between me and my loved ones. The disconnect between seeing my actions as a harmful impact on me and others around me ultimately causes a disconnect between me and God. I forget to focus on the personal relationship that I have with God and that he wants what is best for me. Sin separates me from Him.
I have seen sin take away self respect and cause shame.
Oh yes, selfishness, wanting my way no matter what happens to others
Yes. My sin from decades ago created consequences that have affected my life over the last 20 years; physically and emotionally. I have also become bitter and judgmental towards certain people because of that sin.
I suppose the most prevalent impacts of sin in this season of my life are seen as consequences of ideals that have slipped into idols. I have noticed that I desire to go from coffee, to some other energy drink then later to wine. I don’t think I’m alone as the concept is even captured on T-shirts but there is something in it that doesn’t feel "right" to me. As silly as it might sound to put so much weight on my beverage choices it feels relevant to me as I realized that in these I am looking forward to the slight alteration of reality. I love (almost) all the things we try to cram into our lives. We are never board and we are hit life with all we have kind of people. BUT I am a bit worn, gravitating toward reality alterations to sustain because ultimately I have slipped into doing things in my own power. Eventually this spills into less patience, foal moods and even putting more idols in place (like seeking love and approval of others before God).
I definitely have seen the impact of sin in my life, in fact it turned my life upside down and took away everything I valued. I see it everyday around me and it is rough.
Great quote! Paul says, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18).
Yes, the main impact of sin is that it drives a wedge between myself and God and the peace that close relationship brings. It can drive a wedge between myself and the important people in my life as resentment, jealousy, anger.
Yes, I have been aware of ongoing sin and realize I can’t fight this battle without God and God’s people.