" Sin's Beginning and End "

James 1:12-18   " Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love HIM. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of GOD: for GOD cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted HE any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then  when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the FATHER of lights, with WHOM is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of HIS OWN will begat HE us with the WORD of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of HIS creatures. "

     Like Adam and Eve, we naturally blame others, or even the LORD HIMSELF, for our failure to live according to GOD's Holy will (v.13 cf. Genesis 3:12-13). Excuses for our sin abound: "The temptation was just too great" or "My situation required choosing between two evils" or "I guess I'm not made with the kind of backbone others have." Each attempt to rationalize our transgressions shifts accountability away from self to another. This is disastrous, for it robs us of the only remedy for sin in our life - confession. Unless we take personal responsibility for our failure to comply with the LORD's commands, then we will cut ourselves off from HIS divine prescription for healing the sin-sick soul (Psalm 51:1-4; 107:17-21; 1st.John 1:5-10).

     The temptation to sin manifests itself in our being "drawn away" (v.14) from the "word of truth" (v.17). Two forces are at work in attempting to seduce the saint from the place of steadfastness (v.14): "his own lust" (from within) and "entice[ment]" (from without). The best defense, therefore, is to "keep [the] heart with all diligence" (Proverbs 4:23) and to circumspectly "abstain from all appearance of evil" (1st.Thessalonians 5:22).

     The end of sin is bleak for saint and sinner alike - for the former: a defeated, fruitless life now and loss of reward at the Judgment seat; for the latter: eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire. Notice carefully verse sixteen, a warning directed to the believer. The LORD will not allow the rebellious, wayward saint to continue on in known sin indefinitely; "there is a sin unto death" (1st.John 5:16; 1st.Corinthians 3:15-17; 5:5). Let us walk as children of light that we may obtain the glorious crown of life (vv.12, 17-18). DWC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
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