I’ve been followed around the last few weeks by these words…
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
My youngest son, Ben, and I have been having some deep philosophical conversations about decision making. Ben is eight so usually his biggest decisions include whether to have Lucky Charms or Froot Loops for breakfast. (Just so you know, he solved that conundrum by mixing them both in the bowl together.)
But lately, Ben has been asking harder questions. He wants to know why some people choose to smoke and others don’t. Why some people become addicted to drugs. Why some people end up in prison.
I kept hearing this quote in my head about sin. The word “sin” can sometimes seem intentional, calculated, premeditated — basically something bad people do on purpose. I know that’s not true, but I also know that’s not exactly the right word to use when answering Ben’s questions. Then it hit me.
(Blank) will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Smoking will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Drinking will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Drugs will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Gossip will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Stealing will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Flirting will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Lying will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
There are so many words we can use to fill in the blank.
These conversations with Ben reminded me, as I hope they’ll remind you, that life is filled with instantaneous decisions that may not seem all that important. At the time they feed our need for freedom and independence… and then they wrap their chains around us and take us prisoner.
If you’re already wrapped in chains, bless you my sweet friend. Please know there is hope. There are people who want to help. It doesn’t happen at the snap of our fingers, but we can unravel the tangled mess bit by bit each time we make the next right decision.
I have been tied up in sin. I know how defeating it can feel. But you’re not too far gone. The chains of sin are waiting to be broken. The next step is up to you.