Sin speaks

We are familiar with the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:7 —

“…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

But reading that verse, we might wonder, “Christ is so glorious and His gifts are so gracious; just how is it that Satan is able to blind people to that truth?”  We know Satan can do this blinding, anti-healing work — we’ve observed it too often in the foolish decisions of friends.  But how does he do it?

Psalm 36 provides one answer — “Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart” (v. 1).  Here sin is personified as a speaking man who makes a bold declaration.  As boldly as God speaks and makes final decrees (e.g., Ps. 110:1; Amos 2:11), so openly rebellious sin makes bold (and false) assertions to the sinner about the nature of sin.  It is in listening to these lies that the sinner is led astray.

What does the sin say?  David reveals some of its lies:

• “There is no reason to fear God” (v. 1).  Sin asserts that there is no judgment coming because of the sin.  The sinner may engage in his rebellion with impunity.
• “You are wise…you can escape…you have a right to engage in this dalliance… no harm will come…your secret will remain hidden and undiscovered” (v. 2).  Sin flatters and speaks to the pride of the individual, particularly distorting his thinking about the consequences of sin.
• “Evil is good and good is evil” (v. 3).  Sin distorts the truth of itself, not only leading the sinner into sin, but corrupting his perception of what sin and righteousness are.
• “There’s no reason to hate sin.  Sin isn’t so sinful.  Evil isn’t that evil” (v. 4).  Sin deludes the sinner into thinking that his activity is not only not bad for his soul, but it is acceptable and maybe even good.  He becomes comfortable with his hypocrisy.

“How can he forget his wife and run off with that woman?”  “How could she be so bitter and hostile to her children?”  “How could he reject his faith and become an avowed atheist?” we might ask of people we know.  It’s quite simple, David says.

They listened and believed when sin spoke.

Every sin and every temptation carries with it a message.  It’s a lie.  It’s a deluding and blinding influence from our enemy.  When sin speaks, listen to God.