14 but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by
his own desire. 15 then desire when it has conceived gives birth
to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. — [ james
1:14-15]

is it really possible that our own sin can bring forth death?
according to this scripture, temptation grows based on our own
desire. This temptation lures us to sin, and left unchecked, that sin
will ultimately lead to many kinds of death: death of relationships,
death of joy, and death of peace. sin will even separate us from God,
leading to spiritual death and eventually physical death.
such sin clings closely, entangling us in a suffocating web from
which only God can free us. when we attempt to free ourselves, we
only become more entangled, losing hope.

later in his letter, james refers to sins such as “bitter jealousy” and
“selfish ambition”, stating that they are “not the wisdom that comes
down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic” [ james 3:14].
it is important to remember that there is no ‘gray area’. we are either
walking towards what is holy or what is demonic. there is no middle.
if we think that we can live ‘holy-ish’ and handle just a few ‘little sins’
in our lives, we are only fooling ourselves, and falling right into sin’s
trap of death.

let us strive towards God, and seek to live a vibrant and joy-filled life!
may our prayer be that of david in psalm 139:23-24, “search me, o
God, and know my heart! try me and know my thoughts! and see if
there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting!”

 

~ jason soroski