A number of things probably come to mind from the thought above: murder, rape, incest, sexual perversion, but these things are merely the symptoms of the disease that I have in mind. That disease, sin, is the most wicked thing in the world. Sin is more wicked than its author Satan. Sin has the devilish spirit of Satan for its nature. Sin is meaner than hell itself. We often equate sin with those heinous and most terrible things named above, and attribute it to those who commit such things. Sin, my readers, is a principle, and like an untamed beast it lurks in the darkness of our being. Sin is not only found in the pervert, the rapist, the murderer, and the person who commits such, it is found in principle in the heart of the best Christian. The most ardent and faithful follower of Christ is hindered and intimidated by this beast called sin. The most blinding force that shields the mind from a personal understanding of sin in the heart is self-righteousness. A self-righteous person only sees sin in others. Remember the parable that Christ spoke in Luke 18:9-13? He directed it toward those who “…trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” A man will never be justified in his sin; he may be justified from it but not in it. Experiential justification comes by embracing Christ. He becomes our justification with God when we lay hold upon Him by faith, trusting Him for all our righteousness and all our hope and peace. Along with embracing Christ by faith comes also a turning loose of sin as our idol. Sin may, and will continue with the believer throughout life, but no longer as his bosom pal, rather as a dreaded enemy. Sin can manifest itself in believers in some of the most wicked forms, such as murder, adultery, etc. But usually it manifests itself in a more subtle form such as envy, jealousy, resentment, unkindness, pride, and selfishness. If these things go unchecked and unconfessed they will be the death of communion with God; and can be a great hindrance to the corporate worship of the Church. Therefore we must be always on the watch for this beast that is called sin, and by the power of grace put its every form out of our lives. Sin is the most wicked thing in the world.
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