Don't Dance

Like many families, our clan includes a few furry members. Through the years, however, they have taken back-seat to some non-furry members who say the sweetest things - like MomC & PopC! Lest we forget -- sin is a deadly beast!  An avid outdoors guy, Timothy Treadwell lived among, studied, and videotaped Alaskan grizzlies. He often gave them names and even got close enough to touch them on occasion. He even described the bears as “mostly harmless.”  In October 2003, the bodies of Treadwell and his girlfriend were found fatally mauled in a bear attack.  This tragedy reveals a profound lesson: wild animals are ... wild animals. No matter how trusting of them we become, sooner or later they do what wild animals do, act according to their nature. Why then do we assume, we can waltz with sin and survive?  Perhaps we have forgotten what sin is: “to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (james 4:17); “everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). We like to think of ourselves as kind, respectful, law-abiding people, but let us never forget our truest nature: “all have sinned and fall short” (Romans 3:23).  It is the fallen and depraved reality of man’s heart and its nature that requires a Savior, one to rescue and deliver from sin and death - that's exactly what Jesus did, making available to us forgiveness and salvation “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). At times our furry family members have acted quite naturally, getting them into trouble!  Believers do not have to act naturally, behaving according to our sinful nature.  Don’t be foolish, but wise – sin is a terrible dance-partner.  Just don’t do that dance!