Actor/ musician Jamie Foxx recently called Barack Obama, “Our Lord and Savior” during an Awards show! “Just a harmless joke”, some will say. But, there are some things that you just don’t joke about and this is on top of the list. “Joke” or not, it’s obvious that the natural man is a very poor judge of character and selfish beyond measure. Give them what they want and they will put you on the throne!

Some people have wondered how it could be possible that the Antichrist could gain such wide-spread acceptance and control– how could one man deceive so many? My response is, How can you not see the ease with which this could happen? Have you forgotten about the popularity of Hitler and other ruthless dictators? All you have to do is find a man who convinces the people that he will give them what they want. Do that and BINGO he is installed in office. All he has to do is appeal to the lowest, base, sinful desires of people and they will follow him off “the cliff”. All this is easy to explain–but, for the Christian, very heart-breaking to see. And it is going to happen! The only people who have hope of eternal life are those who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Think about it!

I hate sin! I wish I could say it more forcefully, more convincingly, but I don’t know how.I don’t have words enough to explain how much I hate sin. I hate it for numerous and good reasons.

I hate sin because of what it has done to me. Surveying my life and thinking about all my experiences I can’t help but hate sin. It has done me nothing but bad. It deceived me, defiled me, enslaved me, tormented me, and caused me to do the same to others. Sin corrupted my character, caused me grief, and condemned my soul. Words cannot explain how much I have suffered because of sin. I hate sin!

I hate sin because of what it has done to others. Every parent and spouse knows that it hurts to see your loved ones hurting. Seeing them suffer hurts us more than if we were  in their shoes. We would gladly suffer for them, but we can’t– we can only suffer with them. Seeing your loved one succumb to an illness, suffer an injustice, injured in an accident, or enslaved by a sin breaks your heart. I’ve seen sin destroy families, preachers, and churches. That’s the nature of sin– it deceives, defiles and destroys. I’ve cried my eyes out as I watched sin ruin the lives of people I love. I hate sin!

I hate sin because of what it did to Jesus. He suffered because of sin–not His own, but the sins of others. He had no sin. And it is His sinlessness that makes this all the more painful. When Jesus died on the cross He suffered beyond anything we can imagine, beyond what we can comprehend or describe. If this was the only bad thing about sin it should be enough to cause us to hate it with all our heart. It was sin that subjected Christ to cruel mocking, the lash of the whip, the crown of thorns, and the agony of the cross. It was our sins that caused Him, for the first and only time in eternity, to be separated from the Father. He suffered hell for each of us, paid our sin debt that we might be forgiven, and died that we might live. It was our sins that caused Him to be nailed to the cross and to suffer beyond our ability to understand. I hate sin!

I hate sin and I want to show it through my purity, by my preaching,in my prayers, and by my protest against it. Knowing my hatred of it protects me from it, I want to love God so much that I will utterly detest it with all my heart. Knowing it is dangerous I want to avoid the very appearance of evil. Knowing I am weak, I must be filled with the Spirit lest I be attracted to it and overcome by it. I hate sin!

But, more important than my hatred of sin is God’s hatred of it. It is not my law that has been violated, but God’s righteous standard. God hates sin and because He is holy He must deal with it and He will! God will deal with your sin, either by way of the cross or in hell. As much as you and I might hate sin it pales in comparison to God’s hatred of it. He hates it and will punish it.

God hates sin. I hate sin. You ought to hate sin! When you embrace sin it is like pulling fire into your bosom– you will get burned! When you put the cup of sin to your lips it will be as a deadly poison. When you invite sin into your life it is like inviting a lion into your home– you’re going to get hurt. When you ignore sin it is like dismissing a cancer in your body– it will consume you. When you play with temptation it is like playing Russian roulette– the danger isn’t worth the risk–you will lose. The only provision for sin and protection against sin is the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As believers it is essential that we hide God’s Word in heart, and hate sin with all our hearts that we might avoid it. Think about it!

We all have trials and we are all at different stages of spiritual development, consequently we all deal with difficulties in different ways. Fortunately we see signs of growth in some folks, and they become effective witnesses for Christ. Others, however, go on year after year giving no evidence that they have matured. That should be a matter of great concern–for a number of reason. One reason why we should be troubled by this has to do with the impression we make on others. D. L. Moody said,”Out of one hundred men, one will read the Bible, the other ninety-nine will read the Christian”. He was right. People are watching us–all the time. We do well to remember that we are the only Bible some people will ever read. Let’s make sure the message is clear! A godly life preaches a silent but powerful sermon!

As much as it pains me to say this–I understand why some folks have no interest in becoming a Christian. They watch professing Christians behave as though God is dead, or mighty sick, or terribly unconcerned. Instead of displaying joyful obedience, devotion to their duty, compassion for others, and a cheerful spirit, they drag around with a frown on their face, shun their duties, and show no concern for anyone else. Unbelievers watch them and come to the conclusion that if that’s what becoming a Christian does to a person they want no part of it. Can you blame them? We ought to do better than that!

Old Sam Jones used to say,”I don’t care what a man says he believes with his lips; I want to know with a vengeance what he says with his life and actions”. He’s not the only one to feel that way.Moody said,”A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.” Our problem today is that a lot of “Christians” aren’t shining. They are leaving the wrong impressions on people who are in desperate need of Christ. That’s why Ghandi said,”I would have become a Christian had it not been for Christians”. O how sad! To think that the very people who should be the sinners greatest help becomes his worst enemy. Yet it just keeps happening!

Let us this very day get right with God and get rid of all those things that darken our testimony, deceive others and displeases God. Let us yield ourselves to the Lord and display the fruit of the Spirit so that others will see Christ in us. Until they see the difference Christ makes it is very unlikely that they will have any interest in fine preaching, gospel tracts, and invitations to church. If you are going to be an hindrance rather than a help it would be better if you didn’t even claim to be a Christian. As harsh as that might sound it is not nearly as bad as what the Lord thinks about the harm you are doing. It is a terrible sin to be a stumbling-block to others. Our manner of life should draw others to Christ, not drive them away. Think about it!