Sin is an Intelligent Enemy

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Today’s reading: Romans 6:1-14

I drove yesterday past a billboard advertising a shopping mall.  “Shop Indulgently” its luxurious message whispered seductively to me. Knowing marketing as I do, I could tell the ad was intended mostly for young women, but its temptations worked on me anyway. Had the mall been nearby — instead of 30 miles out of my way — I’m confident I would have  pulled in for a bit.

I came upon this sign shortly after I’d just heard a rousing sermon about the glorious importance of remaining always “in Christ” so as to be eternally ready for His return.  I’d been moved to tears by this message and I’d renewed my vow to Jesus to follow His narrow, glorious path forever. His commandment would be my only guide: to love others as I love myself.

Yet just a few hours later, it was only the matter of convenience that kept me from forgetting that vow. The Devil just barely missed a sale.

Wait. I must give credit to God, not chance. The area I was driving through has many restaurants, bars, gift shops and other temptations.  I’m sure I drove past several other signs trying to lure me to an impromptu afternoon of sin nearby. But grace assured the only one to catch my attention was for the distant mall. God certainly knows how to keep me protected — even from myself.

All of this comes back to mind this morning as I contemplate today’s reading.

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.” (Verses 11 – 12)

This would be simple advice, if sin would consider me dead too.  No such luck, unfortunately.

To sin, I am prime game. (We all are!) The Devil is not going to just sit back and let me play dead. He is too smart for that. I know from experience (and from The Bible) that I can count on sin to unleash all of its seductive bait upon me. And the stronger I resist, the harder it will work against me.

So my work is cut out for me. Seductive billboards are far from all that I must ignore.

But that’s okay. The promises of God, along with all that He has done for me so far,  are definitely worth the effort.  And, as I saw yesterday, He has been known to lend me a hand when The Devil gets too tough.

Thanks be to God for, well, everything.  May I always remember that He is worth fighting for.