…Before your head hits the pillow…

The First Sin

Today’s world doesn’t really like to talk about sin. And unfortunately some churches and Christians don’t like to talk about sin either. Some people believe that because we have been redeemed that a discussion about sin is too negative. I believe that unless we discuss sin in a real way and understand that even if we are Christians we must fight against sin, we make it too easy to fall into sin.

So what about that first sin? For years, I believed that the first sin happened at the moment that Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree forbidden by God. But the more I think about this, the more I think that was not the first sin. The first sin didn’t happen when Adam and Eve at of that fruit, or even when they picked it off the tree. The first sin happened in the MIND of Adam and Eve when they chose to deny the truth that God had given them forbidding them to eat of the fruit.

Sin begins in our minds. Sins are not typically impulsive. When a child decides to pick up a candy bar and steal it in the checkout counter, they first thought about how good that candy bar would taste. They thought and then they acted.

When someone becomes involved in pornography it doesn’t just happen. The person begins to think lustfully FIRST and then starts looking at things they shouldn’t be seeing. When a husband or wife gets involved in an adulterous relationship, they first begin to think about what it would be like to be with this other person.

Mark 7:21-22 says, “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.” All of these sins start in the thoughts of men, women, and even children.

James 1:14-15 tells us, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.”

And James 4:1, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

So, sin begins in our minds and in our desires. This is the reason that it is so important to guard what we see, to guard what we hear, to be careful with whom we associate, and to steer clear of those things that could bring our thoughts to a place that breed evil desires, and where evil desires breed evil deeds.

David Peach in 5 Ways to Avoid Sinful Habits and Thoughts (whatchiristianswanttoknow.com) gives us these ideas about guarding our thoughts:

First, fill your mind with God’s Word. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Reading the Bible will fill our lives with these virtuous things!

Second, keep your mind clean. Psalm 101:3 “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

Third, establish accountability with someone. Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Fourth, view others with godly eyes. I Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” We must think of others as brothers and sisters. If we do this our minds won’t stray to gossip and slander.

And fifth, avoid temptation. Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Sin does begin in our minds, but we can resist sin. We have to believe in the assurance of I John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Oh how I love the promises of God!!