Sin is terrible. I have seen it destroy lives. I have seen sin when it was only a small thought and then grow into full death. Sin is a terrible thing. It will follow you around attaching itself to your back…and you won’t even know it.

Temptation is where it begins. A little thought to satisfy a desire. This is what its like:

“Oh, its only a thought. Anyway, who cares if I were to actually do it. Its really only something that I want. My sin won’t hurt anyone else. Anyway, nobody else will know about it. This is MY secret. I should be able to do what I want when I want. I’m not committing a crime. I just have this one need. I just want to take care of this need. I will do it and it will be done, and I won’t have to do it anymore. Okay. Its time. I’m overwhelmed by this temptation. It won’t hurt anybody. Ive been told that its not good for me, but what do they know. It will only be this once. Okay. Let’s do this. I’m doing this. Now its done. I feel horrible. What was I thinking. Oh wait. Nobody knows, so I shouldn’t feel guilty. Where is this guilt coming from? Its all in my head. Who dares to make me feel this way? I have not done wrong to anybody. I’m going to be confident about myself and be purposeful that there is nothing wrong with what I did. Its that person’s voice in my head telling me I’m wrong. Its their fault. I haven’t done anything wrong. I will just go about my business. Nothung bad here.”

“Oh, wait a minute. I have that desire again. I thought it would only be once. Now its happening again. I thought I could stop it.”

“Now, it’s happened too many times. I think I need to stop, but how? This has been going on too long. I want to stop but I don’t know how. Why did I ever start this? I want it to stop.”

“It’s driving me crazy. Other things in my life are going wrong because of it. It won’t stop. Its taking over my life. I’m starting to lose everything. I’m a wreck, and I have a bad attitude toward others cause I am stuck. I am in a bondage that I dont understand. How is this thing controlling me? It won’t stop.”

“I’m depressed, because I can’t talk to anyone about it. I feel shame and guilt. I want it to stop. Why do I keep wanting to do something that makes me feel terrible afterwards. What do I have to do to be free of this?”

Guys, this is sin. It shows up as a temptation and gives birth to death. It reminds me of a python. A python will get you when you dont see it, and then it will wrap itself around you and squeeze until you can’t breathe anymore. Then, once you are dead, it will begin to devour you.

This is sin. It is wicked, and it comes from the evil one called Satan. The only way to get free from the grips of this death is through Jesus. When you have Jesus, you have the power to command Satan to leave you.

If you are having nightmares, for example, you can command that devil to leave you, in Jesus name. It may take a while, but it is the only way to overcome those nightmares. I use to have many nightmares, and these were not childlike; these nightmares were terrifying. I began to command the devil to leave me alone and get out of my house. They would leave me, but then they would come back another night.

I had to stand firm. I continued to do this each and every time that I was awaken from a nightmare, and now…….NOW I AM NIGHTMARE FREE! Jesus gives us the power to overcome. Look to Jesus and give him your life, put all of your sin behind you and live a life worthy of Christ. If you do this, YOU WILL OVERCOME!

How to know Jesus

Make things right with the Lord, and then you will be able to stand against evil in victory.

Go forth and be blessed my friend.

Note: Featured image is a photo of John 20:26-31 (NIV).