The Sin-Bin
|
The Sin-Bin
|
|
|
Benoni Bulletin -- 010407--"The Sin-Bin""THE SIN-BIN"
Have you noticed how dejected a professional rugby
or football player looks when he earns himself a "yellow- card" from the
referee and has to spend 10 minutes in the "sin-bin?" That is
the epitome of shame for a serious infringement of the rules of the
game. Being "off-sides" or punching an opponent, etc., while hoping no
one notices, gets the "sin-bin" treatment. Now the culprit is ordered
off the field for a time out to meditate on his transgressions
or violations of the rules. Now he watches his team mates play with a
depleted, weakened side. When his time in purgatory is over, he
returns with a deep sensitivity that the next violation of the rules
brings up a "red-card." That means his permanent departure from the game
which leaves his team diminished and disadvantaged. His team might
even suffer defeat because of his lapse of sanity and because
"his place would be empty." He inadvertently gives the opposing team the
advantage. This hurts his team while helping the opposition. Not too
smart!!
Have you ever wondered how your absence from your
place in worship and service affects the church? Were you hoping no one
would notice? Even if the brethren failed to see it, the All-Seeing Eye
of the Almighty never missed it. Jonathan told David that his opponent,
the vicious King Saul of Israel, would notice his absence from the
banquet because his place would be "empty" (I Samuel 20:18). When we do
not do our part in Christianity, we play into the hands of the
opposition. A somewhat regular, but bold, absentee from the assembly,
thought he would provoke the preacher when he saw him in town later. "I
suppose you noticed my pew was empty again on Sunday." The
minister's reply startled the rebel, "No, actually your place was
occupied by the Devil, who smirked at me and said, "Preacher, I've
got him again this week!" When you forsake the assembly (Hebrews
10:25), you hurt the church and you help the Devil. You are "off-sides."
You are definitely not on the Lord's side and you may be in the process
of earning your first spiritual "yellow-card." Don't persist in that
until you earn the dreaded "red-card" and a permanent place in the
sin-bin. When you became a Christian, you joined the Lord's team
and you willingly and without coercion, committed yourself to play
by His rules.
Remember, Peter's denial of Jesus (Matthew 26:75)
earned him a "yellow card" but his time in the sin-bin made him
reflect on his foolish ways. That "time-out" made him make an adjustment
of his anti-spiritual, sinful behavior. Judas, on the other hand,
desired for himself a "red-card" and a permanent place in the
sin-bin, where the garbage collector was Satan himself (see Matthew
27:3-5). When we lie, cheat or steal, we are seeking a yellow-card. When
we live as the heathen do, we are seeking sin-bin time. When we
depart from the faith by following the doctrines of men (the Bible calls
it "doctrines of demons" in 1 Timothy 4:1 KJV), we are seeking a
yellow-card. An erring child of God can come out of the sin-bin,
by repentance and prayer (Acts 8:22). When God's rules have been
violated, God's grace is ready to forgive His sincere, penitent,
heart-broken child. So let's keep from doing time in the sin-bin,
by our heartfelt obedience to our Lord. He loves you and me. Let's love
Him back.
Love you all,
Al Horne, the "Horne of Africa".
|
Copyright © 2001 - 2008
Southern Africa Bible
College - All Rights Reserved
|
