Pet Sins

“Knock, knock.”

“Who’s tapping at my door?” I wonder, peering through the peep hole. “Uh, oh!  It’s my pet sin.”

“I’m busy,” I think to myself. “I don’t have time for that.” I walk away and return to what I am doing.

“Diiiiing doooong!”

I close my eyes in frustration. “I really don’t want to do this,” I protest.  “I know it’s wrong. I’ve asked forgiveness for doing this so many times already. Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away.”

Tug, tug.

“What?! How did you get in the door?” I instinctively pull away and wonder how it got this close. “Look, I can’t do this right now. You have to go away!”

I feel myself begin to waver. It’s not a huge sin, after all. Small compared to many others. Maybe just a little wouldn’t hurt. I’m feeling strong today. I can stop before I go too far.

I let my defense down, just a little. Maybe a little more. I feel it pulling me. “My! How strong you are for just a little thing.” 

“Snag!” It has me in its grip! I feel myself being pulled in, and my resistance weakens. Further and further I go until I’ve completely surrendered. It feels so good and yet so wrong at the same time. I know I've gone too far… again.

When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I saw a few kids from my apartment complex playing in a plastic wading pool. Like a moth to a flame, I ran to meet them and was thrilled when they invited me to join in. I returned to my mom to ask for permission, but she promptly told me “No.” Feeling hurt, I returned to my little neighbors and sadly explained that I couldn't swim with them. They seemed genuinely disappointed and quickly thought of a loophole. My mom said I couldn’t “swim”, but she didn’t say I couldn’t run and “jump” across the pool!

What a great idea! In my 4-year-old mind, I could totally clear the width of the pool. I scooted back, took off running as fast as I could, and leaped when I reached the edge. To my surprise, I in fact did not make it across, but found myself bottom end in the pool. No worries, I thought-I could dry off before heading back home. Let me try that run and jump thing again. After another attempt or two, I abandoned the idea of jumping across and just jumped in, ALL in! Splashing like a fish! Having a GREAT time until …. I saw my mother coming around the corner of the apartment looking for me. I was caught in the act.

That’s how "pet sins" work. They start off looking fun. We think about them, watch others partake in them, and wish we could join in. Then, we let ourselves try it just once-to see what it is like- for research purposes. We convince ourselves that one time wouldn’t be so bad. But then we are tempted again, and before we know it, we are doing it again. Each time we give in, we go further than the last. Eventually, we find ourselves completely immersed-soaking wet and dripping with this sin that once seemed almost harmless.

In the beginning, when Adam and Eve lived in the garden, it was an exciting time of discovery for them. Everything was new, the world was peaceful, and they had close fellowship with God. However, Satan was biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to tempt the young couple. One day he found Eve alone and seized the moment.  Although he didn’t dangle the fruit in front of Eve’s eyes or slice it up and beautifully present it to her on a platter, he certainly tempted her with how good it looked to eat and the desire to taste it. Then he weighted the balance by adding that she would become like a god. How could Eve resist such an offer?  “Just…one…. bite,” she thought.

Genesis 3: 1-6 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

That one bite opened the door to letting sin into the world and things haven’t been the same since.

 Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

As saved believers we are secure in our salvation. We won’t lose it because we sin. Christ died for us, and nothing can take that away.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13

However, unrepentant sin that we continue to commit, does hurt our relationship with God. It can hinder our work for him and even ruin our testimony.

Samson was declared a Nazarite while still in his mother’s womb. A Nazarite lived by a certain code or vow, which included abstaining from alcohol, refraining from touching or being close to a dead body, and not cutting their hair.  While the vow could be for varying lengths of time, Samson was chosen to be a Nazarite for life. Sadly, Samson chose to disregard this vow and broke every. single. rule.

Besides living life according to his own rules, Samson also had a weakness for beautiful Philistine women. Even though the Philistines were the enemy, Samson didn’t care. He would love whom he wanted. Ultimately, this led to his downfall.  

His love for Delilah blinded him to the enemy’s hatred of him and their desire to be rid of him. Delilah’s love for money overshadowed any feelings she may have had for Samson. When offered a significant amount of money by the Philistines to discover the secret of Samson's strength, she did not hesitate to accept the deal.

In this story, it appears that God initially overlooked Samson’s disregard for the Nazarite vow and his weakness for women. However, when Samson went so far as to reveal his source of strength, God allowed him to face the consequences of his actions. The enemy shaved his head, bound him, and took him as a slave. This once mighty man of valor was reduced to grinding grain like an ox.

Samson did receive one final wish. He was summoned to a great celebration for the idol god, Dagon, where the people wanted to mock and ridicule him. When he was led into the large temple, he asked the young man who guided him to take him to the central pillar so he could lean on it. Once in position, he cried out to God to grant him strength one last time. With extraordinary power, he pushed apart the pillars, causing the temple to collapse, killing more people than he had slain during his entire lifetime.

Although this could be seen as a victory, Samson paid for it with his life. His unrepentant sin hindered his relationship with God, ultimately preventing him from living up to his potential in fulfilling God’s will.

Although this could be claimed as a victory, Samson paid for it with his life. His unrepentant sin hindered his relationship with God and thus the opportunity to live up to his potential in fulfilling God’s will as a judge.

Even though we are secure in our salvation, we are not to use it as an excuse to sin.

Galatians 5:1, 13 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and

be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” 

The question then is this: how do we break free from pet sins?

First, we need to confess that sin to God and ask for his forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We also need to commit to studying the Bible more. Prayerful study and meditation of the scripture keeps it close in thought when we find ourselves battling temptations.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Next, we need to have an attitude of prayer. Of course, we should have a time set aside for prayer, but we can also be praying throughout the day. Prayer can include thanks and requests for help when we face certain tasks or situations. It can also be a simple conversation with God about your day or whatever you may be feeling. Prayer is key to having a close relationship with God.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Finally, we need to be seeking God’s will. What does he want us to do? How can we be more involved in his work? If we are praying, studying, and seeking his will, our hearts will be more tender to his promptings when he has a special task for us. In the meantime, we can look for ways to serve in church and seek opportunities to show his love and share the gospel to those around us.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we are still struggling with a sin, we can also seek counsel from a trusted church member who can pray with us and hold us accountable in our quest to overcome this weakness.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

While we all struggle with sin daily, sometimes there is a specific sin that is especially difficult to overcome. You may be able to pray about it and give it up cold turkey, but it may also take time and continued effort to conquer it. As you confess your sin to God and ask for His grace and forgiveness, offer the same for yourself. Sometimes, when we ask God for his forgiveness, we fail to do that for ourselves. In order to move forward in living for Christ, we must let go of our guilt and shame and walk in the newness of God’s forgiveness.

1 John 1:1, 5, 18-24 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

We all sin. The Bible is full of examples. But God uses us in spite of those sins. He redeems us and is glorified through our weakness. Praise God!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2k7U4yDmqk