Sin and Bubbles

The Attractive Look

            One time as I was preparing a bath, I poured in a large amount of bath soap. As I came back to check on it, I noticed that the bubbles had a nice rainbow-colored reflection in them. After turning off the water, I took a closer look at the foamy little mounds. To my surprise, in one of them was a dead bug. Of course, I removed the unwanted guest and discarded it’s remains appropriately…  Flush……

            A little while later I pondered the demise of said intruder. What would make a bug take a bubble bath? It dawned on me that the bubbles looked attractive and harmless. It probably appeared to be a safe place to land. But it was not. The LORD used this as a good teaching point for me. GOD reminded me that sin has the same effect.

            James 1:14–15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”     

Chasing the Deceitful

            As children a great pastime was chasing bubbles. I vividly remember using soapy water and a ring to blow bubbles. We would try to make one as big as possible before it would burst. Or we would try to make as many as possible by waiving the soapy wand in the air.

            How many times have the bubbles been reached for and ‘pop’, they disappeared? All the attention is focused on chasing after something that once it is reached, it is gone.

Proverbs 11:18 “The wicked worketh a deceitful work: But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.”

            Ephesians 4:22 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”  

            Sin has the same effect. You chase after it because it looks good. However, the end result is usually very dissatisfying. Sin makes you believe it is one thing, and worth the effort; but after you have sinned you realize the problems it has caused, or the empty feelings left behind. We tend to realize way to late that the sin was not worth the effort.

Soap in the Eye

            Have you ever gotten soap in your eye? It burns. Doesn’t it. I remember having a big bubble pop near my face and getting some of it in my eye. The result was not pleasant. I realized at the time that chasing that bubble was not worth it.

Psalm 32:10 “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: But he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.”         

Sorrows: Greek (Mak-O-baw) Anguish/Afflictions

So many “anguishes/afflictions” come to the wicked

Some temptations of sin get our attention. We turn to them, and though we know better, we head down that road anyway. Why? Do we tell ourselves that the outcome will be better than what GOD’s word says? In any event all to often we end up with regret and guilt. We either did something that causes us guilt, or we have caused something to occur that brings unnecessary trouble. Now that’s the soap in your eye that really hurts.

Getting far from Home

            Did you ever notice that chasing that bubble kept taking you further and further from where you started? Just a little more and I got it… No, wait.. Just a little further. Next thing you knew you had to run all the way across the yard because a little breeze carried it out of reach. Even in the book of Jonah it is written:

Jonah 2:8 “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”   

It would appear that the mercy of GOD is the peace and security of being in his will. Yet our sin leads us further and further out of it. After a while we look back and try to understand how we backslid so far. We are often surprised by the situation we are in. This is the deception of sin. GOD doesn’t fully protect us from external events if we are not centered in his will. It’s all about choice.

Time to Get Back

The children always came back to where the bubbles started. They would start the process all over again. Many times, out of breath or energy. Getting slower and slower. The next set of bubbles were not as enticing… Getting weaker and weaker.

The Word of GOD speaks to this situation in relation to sin.

Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”       

The simple truth is this… Sin, though appearing to be enticing, is deceitful, empty and deadly. It wears you down and keeps you distracted.

            If we listen to the Spirit, we can avoid the penalty of sin. It is about our focus.  If we focus on what the LORD says and look for him in all situations; the temptations won’t be so enticing because we will be to busy doing what He is leading us to do. There is always a way out of the temptation when looked at soberly.

            1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”