“He is no true believer unto whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow, and trouble.”
—John Owen
Another one of Rev. Henry Newcome’s key questions was, “What sins do most prevail in me?” The ministry of conference begins with a careful self-examination, a Spirit-guided, soul-searching attempt to discover those sins which plague us. Henry Newcome was a mature believer in the Lord. He was a pastor. He had all the right credentials. And he knew his own heart. (Jer. 17:9; 1 John 1:8) He was deeply aware of the presence of indwelling sin and the need to be constantly on the offensive in identifying it, confessing it and renouncing it. Are you in Henry Newcome’s camp? Do you see your own propensity to sin? Have you discovered how easily the hurtful word comes off the tongue? Have you noted your ability to excuse your own sin? We are creatures who have a thousand excuses all of which must be discarded if we are to make any progress with the Lord.
I recently read a story about the resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I noted the great care and precautions that the medical workers engaged in as they sought to help others and prevent their own infection. They wore hooded, hazmat type suits. They either used respirators or at least, masks. Their protocols include washing their suits down with a bleach and water mix as they exit the medical area. The whole scene reminded me of pastor Ralph Robinson’s description of sin: “Sin is the most loathsome disease in all the world, and the most infectious. The small pox, the pestilence, the leprosy; these are delightful, pleasant diseases, in comparison of sin. Sin does pollute everything it comes near; it pollutes the conscience, the ordinances, relations, persons, nations.” [Ralph Robinson, Christ All in All, 83.]
Sin is worse than any disease. Disease and sickness all come to an end. Sometimes, the result is even physical death. But sin extends beyond death. Its reach extends to hell itself. As a matter of fact, sin births hell. “Sin is more hateful to God then the devil; for he hates the devil for sin’s sake, not sin for the devil’s sake.” [Samuel Clark, The Saint’s Nosegay, 26.] Examine yourself today. Do you treat sin too lightly? Are you quick to offer excuses or to ignore sin in your own life? Can you identify and name your own sins? Which ones do you seem most likely to commit? Have you confessed them and found the cleansing that God offers us in Christ? We’ll close with the Scripture promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Have a blessed week and we will see you on Sunday!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale