THE COST OF SIN
Hebrews 11:24-26
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
I woke this morning to a skiff of snow on the ground... it got me excited for the upcoming deer season. My first hunting partner has arrived at camp to help with last minute chores, and it feels like it time to get into a deer stand.
I look forward to the hunters that come as nearly every one of them has become a friend, some are very close friends. It's like a mini family reunion every week for three to four months.
It is a lot of work to keep that much going for the entire fall. Besides running camp and hunts I write each day and have a "real job" as well. Each week I'm somehow able to build the energy levels back up for a new group coming in. This is our ministry and God provides the energy. However by the end of the season I am totally worn out. A few of the last 30 years I've ended up with pneumonia and severe back issue. Although my body and health pay the price, within a day or two after season ends I'm looking forward to next year again.
In the verses in Hebrews 11 Paul says that Moses "chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." (vs 25)
The Bible tells us in many places that is can be pleasurable... BUT only for a season. There are many verses in Proverbs that speak of the pleasures of sin.... But always in a warning. There is no doubt that sin, in the moment can be fun... if that weren't true, who would sin?
In Proverbs 11:17 it says "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!". This tells us that there appears to be quick rewards at times to sin. But there is also a price to pay. Like my pain and poor health at the end of a very long hunting season... there will be a price to pay for "the pleasures if sin".
King David sinned when he took another man's wife. Then he had her husband killed to cover his sin. He paid dearly for many years because of his sin. There are many other examples of all kinds of sin in the Bible that took toll on an individual or an entire country.
We all come to a crossroads many times a day where we choose right from wrong. We make a choice and live with the consequences. The consequences of sin will always have a price tag attached.
There is a saying that describes this well... "The devil offers sinful pleasures, but he never shows you the price tag".
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