A Price Too High To Pay

I love Christian music. I like Contemporary, Southern Gospel, and Praise and Worship especially. There is a song by a Southern Gospel group called the Cathedrals that I especially like. I can't remember the name of it, but the chorus goes like this.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, Slowly but wholly, taking control.
Sin will keep you longer, than you want to stay. Sin will cost you far more, than you want to pay.

I love the words to that song ! Think about it and then let's look at the words a little bit closer. Let's look at the first verse.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, slowly, but wholly taking control. How far do people go in sin. Look at the skid row bum. Did he start out saying that he wanted to be homeless, starving, dirty, smelly and addicted to alcohol? No, he took that first drink. He was with his friends and thought he was cool and having a good time. He thought that he could control it. He could go as far with it as he wanted. But, it didn't work out that way. His sin took control of him and took him farther that he really wanted to go. In Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Many people are led astray by it. But not only alcohol, but also many other sins that take over people's lives. Lust, envy, anger, rage, take over people's lives to the point that they can't function in everyday life. Their sin has taken control. Look at what Paul said in Romans 1:21-25 - ²¹because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²²Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man----and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. ²⁴Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Paul gets into more detail about the depravity of man's sin this chapter(you'll have to read that on your own). But, in essence, he is saying that their sin took them farther than they had planned.

Look at the next verse of the song. Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay. Look again at the alcoholic who wants to quit, but can't, the sex addict that can't stop his desires, the gambler, the drug addict, the liar, the thief and many more. There are people that are caught up in all kinds of sins that want to get out, but don't have the strength on their own to do it. They're addicted to whatever sin it might be. They try to quit, but the urges are too strong, too powerful. Their sin keeps them longer that they want to stay. It's fun at first, thrilling and exciting. But after a while, it takes control and they can't quit. Look at II Peter 2:12-17 - ¹²But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, ¹³and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, ¹⁴having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. ¹⁵They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man''s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. ¹⁷These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Their sin had kept them longer than they wanted to stay.

Finally, let's look at the last verse. Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay. The price of sinning is far too expensive. It will cost you your spouse, your kids, you self-esteem, your happiness, your contentment, your job, your possessions, your money, your sanity, and most importantly, your soul. Look at the following verses. Revelation 21:8 - "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and Galatians 5:19-21 - ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. It's bad enough to lose your family, your job and your self-esteem, but to lose your soul ! That is far too high a price to pay for the momentary "pleasure" of sin. The sad thing is, it really doesn't satisfy the inner longing of the soul.

Thank God it doesn't have to be that way. There is hope. Look at what the Psalmist said for the one that turns from his sin and puts his trust in Christ. Psalm 91:14-16 - ¹⁴ "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

Thank God for His deliverance from the terrible price of sin.

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Roger