Early in my senior year of high school, I had a very attractive and popular girl in my class named _________ ask me to walk with her at graduation. I said yes, and took great joy in having her as my partner, just because of who she was. I decided then that perhaps we should date, but for some reason it never happened. I am not sure whether I was just dumb or God was protecting her during my BC days! During the year, I turned down other offers because I wanted to walk with her. She was special and I knew it.

When I think about her, I wonder what it would have been like to know her better, more intimately as the beautiful person I imagined her to be. I feel as if I had asked, perhaps she would have dated me, but I will never know. So it is with you, me, and all of our relationships with God — we must pursue them with passion or close relationships will not happen. Being willing to walk with Him and being proud of your “connection” does not provide the depth of a meaningful relationship. Yesterday and the day before we said sin is what kept us from enjoying the process of halaking with God in a meaningful way. Although I do not think that you need a lesson on sin, I want to define the different types for you so they are easier to recognize. In the same way the U.S. Treasury trains its people to identify counterfeit money by studying the real thing, so it is that if we understand what sin looks like we have the capacity to develop the skill sets necessary to combat it.

In everyday terms, there are three types of sin. They are outlined in Genesis 3:6 and normally occur in stages. Stage one occurs when we are young and passionate and our flesh desires experience. However, that desire cannot be satisfied, no matter how much you get. As we get a little older, stage two is more prominent as we try to keep up with the Joneses. Our society encourages us to make things such as clothes, cars, homes, and collectibles our “gods.” Then when you get really old, like me, stage three sets in with issues of pride as you develop success patterns after doing things for long periods of time. It may consist of education, titles, position, or achievements but whatever they are, they tempt you to become arrogant and prideful. Any or all three will kill any chance you have of halaking with God and gaining the wisdom and peace that provides you with a life of joy and hope.

Kids, any psychologist will tell you that recognizing a problem is the first step toward fixing it. Each of us has a continual problem with sin, robbing us of an intimate relationship with our Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. As you go through each day, you will sin. Fortunately, we have grace to cover that. However, today, try to recognize and classify your sin. The better you can do that, the easier it is to call it what it is. Once you understand it for what it is, you have the opportunity to make a choice through the Holy Spirit’s direction that unbelievers do not have (I Corinthians 2:14). As you understand the eternal impact of your sin on your walk with God and your Kingdom position, it will be easier to choose life instead of a moment in time. I know, it’s not easy but it is worth the effort as the rewards are long term.

Love, Dad