Those who practice sin are
blind to what they are doing. Further, they adopt an attitude that
there is nothing wrong with sin and somehow become completely blind
to the effects of their attitude and actions. Even worse, they
encourage others to participate in what they are doing! This
camaraderie only seeks to enforce their stance about sin and harden
their hearts to the point that they become unreachable!
Why is this possible? How can
a normal human being become so adamant against the will of the
creator of all the universe and willfully sin?
I think the following passage
from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians provides the answer.
2
Corinthians 4 (World
English Bible)
1 Therefore
seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t
faint. 2 But
we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in
craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the
manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s
conscience in the sight of God. 3 Even
if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish; 4 in
whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving,
that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God, should not dawn on them. (emphasis
added) 5 For
we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves
as your servants for Jesus’ sake; 6 seeing
it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”who has
shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The
“god of this world”
is Satan (The Devil, The Dragon, The Serpent, The wicked one, The
Evil one,
Beelzebub,
The Anti-Christ, The Tempter, The Father of lies, Apollyon, Belial)
or whatever other descriptive name you wish to chose. Personally, I
like the term adversary, because that is
what he is to me. My adversary will do anything and everything to
separate me from God and blind me from God’s truth.
Combating
him is difficult and it is a fight that seemingly never ends, for the
adversary never gives up, always looks for your
weakest moment and makes sin seem so wonderful.
The
Good
News
is that we have the Word of God to fight him with and Jesus to
intercede for our shortcomings and
that is nothing less than very GOOD
NEWS!!!
I
especially like verse six (above) because somehow it mimics the first
creation, in that God creates a new light within us via the
revelation of who and what Jesus is all about.
If
you don’t know what I am talking about, then I urge you open one of
the Gospel accounts (try the book of Mark because it is more succinct
and straightforward than the other accounts) and as you read, I think
you might just understand the
greatness of the life that Jesus offers and the folly of doing
anything less with what time we have been given on this earth.
Do
yourself a favor, take another look at the graphic and just think
about it and ask yourself: Am I blind or do I really see the Truth!