Sin Loves The Procrastinator

"Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person."  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sometimes a person has dealt with pain, or suffered from a malady for so long that they simply just get used to it. For them, it feels perfectly normal and they continue living in that condition. This is not unusual, as it happens more often than you think.

The same thing can happen to us when dealing with sin. Many of us have been living lives steeped in sin for so long, that we have become insensitive to it. Like the person who has grown accustomed to a chronically bad knee or shoulder, we shrug it off and press on through the pain of living a sinful life.

In many cases, some are actually unaware that they may be languishing in a spiritual malady. That probably explains why it seems that they are in no hurry to seek release from its grasp. After all, it they were aware of it, wouldn't it stand to reason that they would seek help?

We see a good illustration of this in John 5:1-6. We are not told how long the invalid rested in the five porches, lethargically waiting for healing. Apparently he wasn't totally incapacitated in that he somehow, perhaps by crawling, managed to make it to the healing pool (Bethesda) for thirty-eight years.

Whatever it was that ailed him, had been with him for a long time. Thus, for all intents and purposes, his plight might have seemed incurable. For sure, there were others around the pool, but Jesus singled him out. Why him? Maybe Jesus saw something in him that wasn't evident in the others.

For an insight to this, we can skip ahead a few verses to John 5:14. It appears from this verse that the man's dilemma was the result of a past, sinful lifestyle. Could it be that he had been living with his sin for so long, that he grew insensitive to it? Make no mistake, Jesus was well aware of his lengthy suffering.

We read in John 5:6: When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to get well?" Jesus was questioning his seriousness in wanting to be helped. The man had obviously seen others cured over the years, so he knew that the possibility existed for him too, if he could just make it to the pool. The trouble was, he was hoping (waiting) for someone else to take him to it.

He had become too indolent, or lazy to seriously attempt it himself. He blamed it on others beating him to the task, in one way or another. Does this same inaction (spiritual malaise) keep us from earnestly seeking help from Jesus? Do we blame our procrastination or idleness on others?

Of course, the invalid was fortunate. He was cured by Jesus, even though he didn't specifically ask him to. This man's cure served as an example of the Jesus' mercy and grace to all that were present that day. He showed that there is help available by the power of Christ; as evidenced by his actions with the invalid.

Sometimes, as with the invalid, we want others to make our decisions for us. It doesn't work that way with, especially when it comes to our own sin. The invalid was lucky in that Jesus took it upon himself to cure him without being asked. Remember, one of God's gifts to humankind is free will. This means that it is up to us to either, choose to follow God, or not.

As I have mentioned, Jesus used this event to demonstrate his glorious power, which is available to all who ask. If we want the same help, we have to get up off the sofa, get down on our knees, and pray for forgiveness. Jesus will not show up at your door and ask you if you need his help.

Sin wants to remain unknown. It's perfectly happy just quietly lurking around inside of us, slowly taking over our lives while we go about our business. Before you know it, you have grown indifferent to it. Like aching joints, we shrug it off, and keep on going while the damage continues. Does it have to be this way? No!

Christ can heal us, too. Unlike the invalid, we have to ask for help (it's that free will thing again!) We have to approach Him and ask for forgiveness. But how do we know we have a problem? We all have a problem with sin! There is not one of us alive who isn't a sinner. Some just figure that it's easier to just deal with it ourselves (which is a big mistake) than to seek Christ's helping hand.

Here's an important detail. Just because you were born again doesn't mean that you'll be perfect. It may be true that when we're born again we receive a new, godly nature (Ephesians 4:24), but our old, sinful nature still exists. We will always need Christs' help. It's not a one shot deal. We will need His help as long as we live and breathe on this side of eternity.

Therefore, I urge you to earnestly seek Jesus' help and forgiveness for your sins. And as you do, remember to always give him all the glory and credit! He loves you, and wants to help you. But, you have to make the first move, no one else can do it for you.

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-16; John 5:39-40; James 4:17; 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 2:8-9

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I pray to you for the forgiveness of my sins; and the strength to resist temptation wherever and whenever it may strike. You are always foremost in my heart and mind; may Your merciful and gracious hand keep me from falling to sin. In Jesus name, Amen  

God bless you!

Emmie