SIN IS DEADLY
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
I.A Common Thread: 'But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.'
Among the Eskimo, a prized kill is the wolf. Prized for its warm fur against the brutal elements of the cold. To catch and kill this mighty predator, the Eskimos need only to appeal to the animals taste for blood. So a razor sharp knife is dipped in blood over and over until the blade is covered and frozen. Securely fixed in the ice the smell of blood is too much for the wolf to resist. The wolf licks the blood on the razor edged knife until its own tongue is sliced and life is soon slipped away.
A. Sin's Approach: 'But every man is tempted,' No one can say they are above sin or are not tempted. Sin's approach always follows the same path. I John 2:16 says, 'For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.' Every encounter with sin will have one or more of the following;
The Lust Of The Flesh: Rom 7:18-21 'For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me'
The Lust Of The Eyes;
The eyes are a gate that is connected to the heart. Jesus spoke to this very subject in regards to sin. Matt 5:27-28. 'Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.'
The Pride Of Life;
Adam and Eve stepped into this deadly trap. Pride is an awful enemy. Prov 6:16-17 'These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:' And at very the top of the list of thise seven things God hates is; (Vs17) 'A proud look,'
It was pride that brought the mighty Samson to a place of defeat, demise and ultimately death. Life's highways are littered with broken and forgotten people destroyed by pride.
B. Sin's Appeal: 'every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.'
Satan uses the same tactics every time, but repackages them in disguise. to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.’ Sin has that same effect upon all those who indulge in its sweet taste and bitter end.