The Power Of Sin

It was a typical Sunday evening...

We were all traipsing up our front steps, having just returned from Sunday supper at Bama and Papa's. I heard my 4-year old son's voice ring out behind me, clear as a bell, almost in song...

"Sin is powerful... we see the power of sin! Sin has power..."

I was appalled. My knee-jerk reaction was to turn around and declare, "No! Sin is NOT powerful. GOD is powerful. Sin is WEAK. POWERLESS. Sin is bad. Just bad."

And I did just about that. I said, "No, honey, sin is bad. It has no power." And I left it at that.

But as I prepared for bed, those words rolled through my head again...

Sin is powerful.

We see the power of sin!

Sin has power.

And you know what? He's absolutely right. We may not like to admit it, but sin has a lot of power. It can consume us. It is such an easy trap to fall into. We are ALL sinful and it is an alluring, dangerous path. The sheer ease and appeal of sin make it powerful. And as far as "we see the power of sin"? You bet. Every day. Who among us hasn't seen someone rise to power, achieve great fame, or attain great riches through sin? Through deceit or trickery of some kind?

Scary thought.

So today I'll expand on that conversation with my boy. It's important that I revisit the idea with him...

Because he's right. Sin has power.

Blessedly, our Lord has more power. And we are called to rest in that knowledge, to find shelter through our faith. To resist temptation.

Nonetheless, I realize that it is important to never forget....

We see the power of sin.

And so do our children.