Anytime you’re going down, it’s never a good thing. Samson did several wrongs.
First of all, he married a woman of the Philistines, no doubt marrying out of God’s will. Secondly, on his way to Timnath Samson was attacked by a lion, which he killed; but on his second journey to Timnath, he came across the carcase of this dead lion and found a swarm of bees and honey in it. He scooped the honey out and ate it, but remember his Nazarite vow – he was to have no contact with the dead, thus he broke his Nazarite vow to God. Samson had sinned.
Today we try to be politically correct when talking about sin. We call it a mistake, an error in judgment, a slip, a weakness; but the truth is, it is sin.
Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the service, one of the church officers came to counsel with him in the study. “Dr. Howard,” he said, “we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.” The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the visitor said, “You see that label? It says strychnine – and underneath in bold, red letters the word ‘Poison’! Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ‘Essence of Peppermint’, don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label, the more dangerous you make your poison!”
Now isn’t that the truth? Today we need to love people and part of that love is being truthful and calling sin what it is – sin.
What to do:
✞ Remember, it’s easier to go downhill than it is to go uphill.
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