During the Cold War, the US government’s policy toward communism was one of containment. The United States had no strategy for eliminating communism; the goal, rather, was to restrict its spread. Many Christians have a similar policy toward sin. Rather than take up the New Testament call to ‘put to death the deeds of the body’ (Rom. 8:13), they are happy to cohabit with sin so long as its growth is limited. The problem is that sin is a power that refuses to be contained. To attempt to make peace with a known sin is like negotiating with a terrorist group. The only peace terrorists are interested in is the peace of fear, subjection, and conquest. So it is with sin.
A classic case study of such naivety is seen in the life of David. David thought that he could manage the sinful passion of lust. He could have an affair with a neighbor’s wife while controlling the collateral damage. He quickly learned otherwise. Before David could catch his breath, adultery was producing deceit, which was producing murder, which was producing a callous and indifferent pride. One sin led to another with the spontaneity and speed of a falling train of dominoes. Although, in the end, David’s sin was fully forgiven, the consequences were not mopped up without residue. Bitter side effects of a single choice continued to plague David for years to come.
Men need to ponder the warning of David’s fall. Sin is not something to be managed; it is something to be killed. This is a truth that we neglect to our peril. And the sooner we kill sin, the better, because the longer we wait, the more difficult the process will be to pick up the pieces of the life we have shattered.