Devotion: The Wages Of Sin

Recently we talked about how deadly sin was.  We found in scripture that, “…the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23).  In that discussion we mentioned that just as we expect to receive “compensation or a wage” for working in any job, be it full-time or part-time, we should expect to receive “compensation or a wage” for working or living in sin, be it full-time or part-time.  Although the “compensation or wage” for employment is usually some type of monetary benefit, the compensation or wage for sin is “death.”  We noted that this passage was really telling us “the wages, the salary, the pay, the income, the take-home pay” of sin, no matter the amount of sin, is “death.”  Working in sin, playing in sin, living in sin, or just existing in sin pays a benefit, which according to scripture is death.

We also mentioned that though a sinful act does not end in death each and every time, death is one of the possible outcomes each and every ime a sinful act is committed.  We found that the problem with engaging in sin was that sin will take us where we don't what to go, will keep us longer than we want to stay, and will cost us more than we want to pay.  We mentioned that we may have the ability to choose the sin, but the one thing that we do not get to do and cannot do is to choose the consequences of sin.  Sin is deadly, so keep in mind that “the wages, the salary, the pay, the income, the take-home pay” for working or living in sin, be it full-time or be it part-time, is “death.”

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Most people expect some type of consequence for their sins, but they expect that consequence to come from God.  Because we have heard been taught that God hates sins and cannot be around sin, most of us have this fear that God will rain down fire and brimstone upon us as punishment for us sinning.  The truth of the matter is, there is “a system” in place by which we receive the consequences of our actions thanks to Adam when he opened the door for “sin to enter into the world and death, by sin followed.”  In the book of Deuteronomy, we actually can see the “system” first hand.

“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken (obey) unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe (observe carefully) to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee” (Deuteronomy 28:15).

According to this passage, if we do not listen to the voice of the Lord and observe to do all he commandments and his statutes, then these curses will come upon us.  The curses are listed for the next fifty-three verses, which are a lot of curses.  Just so that we know, the blessings are contained within the first fourteen verses.  Thought it would be interesting to mention that the blessings are so great that they can be summed up in just a few verses while the curses are very detailed.  Now, according to this passage, if “we” do not listen to the voice of the Lord and do as he has commanded, then “these curses” will come upon “us.”  Please make note of what the passage did not say.  The passage did not say that if “we” do not listen to the voice of the Lord and do as he has commanded, then God will put or place “these curses” upon “us.”  These curses themselves will come upon “us” if “we” do not do what the Lord God has commanded.  This is what is called “cause and effect,” where the second event is a direct consequence of the first event.  “Be-cause” we chose to do or not to do something, which is “the cause part,” then some type of action or inaction occurs, which is “the effect part.”  For every decision that we have made in our life, there has been some type of consequence that has occurred as a result of our decision, this is that “cause and effect thing” in action.

The effects have been good or bad; they have been a blessing or a curse; but something has resulted from the choices we have made throughout our entire life.  Some of the effects where seen immediately while others have taken several years to manifest, but every choice has resulted in some type of consequence.  Because of the choice that Adam made to be disobedient, “the cause;” it opened the door, which allowed sin and death to affect all of mankind, “the effect.”  Again, please note that it was not God who put this curse on mankind but the choice that Adam made that afflicted mankind with the curse.  Since Adam opened up the door and let the curse enter into the world, it would be safe to assume that “the system,” which was in existence long before it was written about in the book of Deuteronomy, was introduced into the world by the actions of Adam.  In this system, we see that “be-cause” we chose to sin, which is “the cause part,” there is some type of “compensation or wage” paid, which is “the effect part.”  Sin pays a wage and that wage is ultimately death.

We pray that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

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Kingdom Worker Ministries offers a series of products and resources to those desiring to dig deeper into the Word of God and break traditionalism to gain full truth of God’s words and principles.  Our products are designed to increase your awareness, improve your understanding, deepen your knowledge and inspire you to walk in truth.

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