Your Sin Will Find You Out
This months subject is one that I have been reluctant to write about. But, with all the immorality going on I’m pressed to exhort upon this subject with this now so widespread in the congregations I shall cry aloud and spare not for this is the Father’s command. In the book of Ephesians 5:3.5 God states But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints, for this is you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath and inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Listen to Colossians 3: 5,6. Mortify therefore your members, which, are upon the Earth fornication uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which, things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. Also, I Thessalonians 4:3-5 For this is the will of God even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fortification. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Not in the lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles (heathen) which know not God.
In his letters, Paul repeatedly warned the early Christians about the dangers of sexual sin. These warnings were not given just to fill space. They reveal Paul’s concern and instruction in an area of our lives where even God’s people can sin. Read carefully what he says. Any person who persists in sexual sin, Paul says is worshiping and glorifying his body and therefore has put his sensual desires in the place of God. This God says is idolatry that is worshipping something other than the creator. In so doing, they exclude themselves from the Kingdom of God Eph. 5:5 we tend to think that this whole area of sexual sin is only committed by people outside the church. But to our horror, we discover that even this sin has crept in among the people of God. I have watched young people who have committed their lives to Christ and who could have been greatly used by God, ruin their whole future because of an unguarded moment when their sexual desires took over. Often, an unwanted child or a hastily arranged marriage was the result. Even church leaders and pastors have found themselves drawn into a relationship by an attraction to someone other than their marriage partner, it happens.
King David referred to as the man after God’s own heart, committed this very thing with Bathsheba. It is an area where the Devil can run amok in the church because he plays on our sexual desires. James 1:14-15 says, but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. There are many, who like Bathsheba, attend church every Sunday. They are not like Delilah, the painted prostitute who spun her cleaver web for Samson and was known all over town for her sinful lifestyle. No Bathsheba was not a prostitute, she was a faithful, clean-living wife, and yet she and David fell into sin. She had not yet seduced him, but it happened, quietly, without anyone knowing. And all sexual sin in the church happens this way. Human nature hasn’t changed. This sin is repeated many times over and the alarming thing is that it is carried on by Christian people who seem blind to what they are doing. I know several instances where men and women in the church were drawn into a relationship outside their marriage. It happened gradually. The alarming thing is that both were working together for the Lord! Listen to one minister’s confession, it all started innocently at least it seemed so. My ministry kept throwing a certain girl and me together. One of the most active laypersons in the church and we both carried the identical burden for the church people. It all began in common ministry that’s what so ironic. We worked together, shared together, prayed together, laughed together not just her and me, but in a group. Yet there was an attraction there, a spark between us that lit a fire. My wife was busy with the kids and her job. She never suspected anything and I was continually around this laywoman. We started climbing the ladder, exchanging little pleasantries meaningful glances double meaning kidding and finally little touches, pats, a squeeze of the hand, a quick hug, all accompanied by spiritual overtones. It was exhilarating. I’m not saying I wasn’t guilty just that sin had such a powerful attraction to me. I wanted more and I was willing to risk anything, everything to get it. Well to make a long story short, so did she. It seemed like I was helplessly being swept along by a river of desire. It was like I was a teenager again going to far, then repenting and promising to do better. Then just as quick I was hungrily seeking more sin. Soon I quit resisting and was swept into outright adultery. All this time I kept up my ministry. I don’t think anyone really knew it that’s scary isn’t it. Then it all came crashing down. Be sure your sin will find you out is true. We got found out, now my life is a shambles. My dreams have shattered at my feet. I’ve lost my beautiful wife. I loved her all the time and still do. I’ve lost my wonderful children oh how I ache to be with them again. I’ve lost my ministry probably forever. What an ache it is to sit in a service without running it. It’s all gone my future, my hopes, my dreams, my family, my reputation, and my ministry. The Devil doesn’t show you where the little temptations lead you. The excitements, the delights, the powerful seductiveness of sin are fleeting. He says, if my story can help others use it without my name. Tell you young men to stay off the ladder and drink from their own spring. Tell them to clean up their thought life. Tell them sin doesn’t pay, and sooner or later it will find them out. Maybe the ashes of my dreams can teach others to say no to the Devil.
I’m praying for this man. But I must proclaim God’s Holy Word. What does God say to such behavior? What is his attitude to those who indulge in sexual sin? As God has not changed, his attitude is to this sin remains the same as that expressed to King David. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. After a visit from Nathan the prophet, David realized the full extent of his action. I have sinned against the Lord he lamented. This old preacher hates to say it but even though God’s attitude to sin has not changed, we can’t say the same for the church. Because sexual sin has become so prevalent in our society, the church has become used to it. So much so that even pastors and prominent church leaders are now having affairs. How can revival ever come if the church is caught up in the very same sins as the world? In fact, the whole credibility of the church is called into question. When such sin is carried on with hardly a protest from anyone. It needs to be said, though I hesitate in saying it, but how can anyone continue to preach the word of God to others when they themselves are living in sin? What they preach and teach can never come from a heat that is burning with the word of God. Any word they speak must be coming from their own minds. It could never be classed as a word from the Lord. God’s blessing is no longer on their preaching their credibility is gone and the respect they once had gradually evaporates.
Sexual sin has ruined many lives not just the one who has committed the sin but the marriage, family and often their church. Sin has a habit of affecting many people. It did in King David’s family and it continues to do the same today. It’s like throwing a stone into a pool of calm water. The ripples go out in all directions. So too do the ripples of sin. To anyone engaged in sexual sin or involved in a questionable relationship and who believes they won’t get caught or found out, hear this warning. I want to point out the lie Satan is telling you you’ll never get caught. Satan is telling you that you are the exception you can get away with it. He says a little bit of sin for a season won’t hurt you, and no one will ever find out. Listen carefully Satan is a liar you will be caught!
People have believed they could get away with sin from the beginning of time. Adam and Eve believed it. They got caught. Cain thought he gotten away with murder Cain got caught. Rebekah and Jacob thought they had deceived everyone, they got caught. Joseph’s brothers thought their sales agreement with the Ishmaelite’s cleared them of even being found out they got caught. Moses thought he had buried his sin in the sand. Moses got caught. Achan thought the evidence was well hidden under the floor of his tent. Achan got caught. Saul thought Samuel would never find out about a few animals kept back. Saul got caught. David figured a little sin on the rooftop or in privacy of his bedroom would never come to light. David got caught. Ananias and Sapphira got caught. It’s simple sooner or later you will get caught. You will be like other people down through history you will be caught. It is a universal law of life. Be sure your sin will find you out.
How will you be found out? Maybe the woman will tell. She may break under her burden of sin and blurt out the whole story in confession at some altar or to a friend or preacher. Or maybe someone else may tell. You think no one saw you, but someone, somewhere did and they will tell. Or believers will just know it. Christians have a special sixth sense about sin in the camp, and they will sense something is wrong. Or maybe you will tell on yourself. The burden of quilt may eventually be so much for you to handle that you yourself will give up and confess to this sin just to find release spiritually. Or if you seem to be getting way with it for a season, you will be more and more bold. So that eventually causes yourself to get caught. Or finally God will tell on you. Even if you don’t get found out by any of these, God himself will bring sin into the light. Do you think you can hide from what he has always done expose sin? Do you think you will be the first human in history to get away with sin? He will find a godly Nathan like prophet and reveal directly to him what you have done. It may take weeks, months, or even years to crop up, but sooner or later you sin will be found out. You can’t hide sin and get away wit it. This is the Devils lie. If you are fooling around with sexual indiscretion, you will get caught. I address this matter last because it is Satan’s ultimate lie. Is there not enough evidence about us to illustrate that people do not get away with sin? If you are close on the edge of sexual indiscretion turn back now. Flee leave your coat behind recognize the consequences. Eventually you’ll be caught. And you, your family, your church and all your friends will pay a heavy price. There is only one remedy for deliverance from sexual sin and that is by total death at the cross. Remember what Paul said to the Colossians. Put to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. The words put to death emphasize the importance of dealing with such things, for if these desires haven’t died they are still alive. Any attempt to suppress them, or walk away from them or cover them over will only end in defeat. The old sensual desires will continue to return unless they have been dealt a deathblow in a complete repentance and confession to God.
We have promise that God will forgive and cleanse us from all sin (John 1:9) but we must take the first step.
My closing Remarks this has been a long writing but I have written what I have written.
In Jesus name,
Elder Terry L. Harmon