Trapped in the Clutches of Sin?

Perhaps one of the most dire situations an individual can find themselves in is sin! When you choose to live in sin, you have chosen a path of self-destruction—a path of ruin. You choose to enjoy pleasures that are only momentary and then they are gone—leaving behind a trail of lies, deceit, and emptiness. You soon find yourself deeper in than you ever intended to go. You soon discover sin has carried you to places you would never have gone before. You soon get to the place where you see no way out as life begins to crumble in all around you.

David found himself in just such a situation. He had committed adultery which led to murder which led to the death of his own son which led to a plague that swept through the innocent people of Israel. How can one small sin create such a disaster? Have you ever considered the repercussions of sin that you allow into your life? Have you ever stepped back momentarily and assessed the damage one unconfessed sin can create not only for you but for many others around about you?

David found himself lost and hopeless at what became the darkest time of his entire life! He said: “When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat” (Psalm 32:3-4 HCSB). The unconfessed sin burned deep inside his being. His inner man groaned from the weight of the sin combined with the conviction of GOD’s Spirit. He was slowly wasting away to oblivion!

Have you been there? Maybe you are there right now? Maybe you are feeling what David felt? Maybe your insides are groaning from the weight of your sin? Don’t allow it to carry out its work of total destruction. Recognize there is help and hope. The Spirit of GOD is still there speaking ever so gently to you to wake-up, rise from the trash heap that has encompassed your life and rediscover GOD’s grace, mercy and love.

At his greatest moment of despair, David discovered the path of peace. In his own words, he said: “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You took away the guilt of my sin” (v. 5). David recognized his own inability and he turned to the only One capable of renewing the peace and security he had once enjoyed. He acknowledged his sin before GOD. He confessed his own sinful ways and GOD’s peace was restored to his heart and life. He was released from the weight and the destructive nature of the sin that had bound his heart and life.

Out of the new-found freedom he was experiencing, he cried out: “How happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How happy is the man the Lord does not charge with sin, and in whose spirit is no deceit! (vv. 1-2). Being loosed from the overbearing weight of sin by the Spirit of GOD is the single greatest feeling and experience an individual will ever pass through.

Perhaps you have deep-seated sin in your life? Perhaps there is something deep within you that continues to weight you down and is slowly destroying your life from the inside out? Perhaps there is not another person in the world aware of your sin, but GOD knows and GOD desires to deliver you today! GOD does not hang over you waiting to punish you and judge you and condemn you; rather, GOD has created the only means whereby you may be freed from the weight of your sin.

1 John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” GOD desires to free you today. Inside you are wasting away but the freedom that GOD has for you is available to you right now. Don’t remain in the pit of despair any longer. Make peace with GOD by confessing to Him what He is already aware of. Come clean before Him and He will cleanse and purify your heart and soul and restore you to your position of peace and security in Him.

Scripture Reading: Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against You-You alone-I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge. Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:1-12).

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, my heart is heavy, my life is overwhelmed by the weight of the sin that I have allowed to enter into my life and there remain. You are mindful of this sin so my confession is not something that will bring my sin to light in Your eyes but it will bring Your forgiveness. I ask You, Dear GOD, to forgive me and cleanse and purify my heart and life. Please release me from the bondage of this sin and help me, LORD, to walk away from sin and to keep my life pure before You so I may bring pleasure to You in all my ways. May my life glorify You always. I praise You and love You, O LORD…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!