I hate sin. I absolutely hate it. I hate it because it can wreak havoc in marriages. I hate because it causes couples who formerly had a burning love for each other to become bitter, spiteful, and ridiculous. I hate it because I have seen its effects destroy entire families. I hate it for it's destruction of trust and good faith in people. Sin makes it so easy to become cynical.

I hate it because it can devastate a life filled with endless opportunity and promise. I hate how it destroys the best of friendships I hate it because it deceives us into thinking that it's not a big deal. I hate sin because it says there will be little or no consequence for wrongdoing. I hate it for the bad attitudes it causes. I hate it because it impedes the forward progress being made within a local congregation of the Lord's people. I hate it because it separates man from God -- "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear" (Isa. 59:2). Most importantly, I hate it because if there is no repentance it brings forth spiritual death. "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). (David talks about loving God and His Word, therefore he hates everything that is evil, Psa. 119:104 etc.).

These are just a few of the reasons why I hate sin. I must confess that this intense hatred was not always there. There are still times when I flirt with it and even succumb to its myriad of temptations. Even after owning up to my wrong doings (confessing my sins to God); asking God for forgiveness (1 Jno. 1:9,10); and moving forward with my life, there is still the memory of the dreadful behavior of an earlier life that haunts me. Yes, this is one of the unforeseen consequences to sinful behavior. This was something that Paul had to deal with throughout his life. "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all" (1 Tim. 1:12-15).

After putting on Christ through the waters of baptism (Gal. 3:26 27) we must begin to develop extreme dislike (hatred) for sin. This principle is found in a commandment given to the Israelites. Deut. 7:26 says: "You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned." Note Psa. 119: 113: "I hate those who are double-minded, But I love Your law."

We should hate sin because it defiles. We need to picture sin as being dirty; grimey; rotten; putrid; or just plain awful. The Bible paints a clear picture showing our need to be cleansed from it. Psa. 51:2,7 show this clearly. "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." See also, Isa. 1:18 and 1 Jno. 1:7.

Our hatred for sin will also grow as our desire for heaven increases. Why? Sin will keep a soul out of heaven! In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev. 21:25-27).

I don't know about you, but as I grow older I find myself tiring of the temptation; grief; anguish; disappointment; and heartache associated with sin. I want to be in a place where the wiles of the devil pose no threat to me! I want to be in a place where God will wipe away every tear from my eyes, and there will be no longer any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away (Rev. 21:4).

I encourage every Christian to develop a healthy dislike for sin. Don't let the devil deceive you into thinking there will be no consequence for sin. Don't let yourself be conned into the idea that your
sins will not be found out. "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23). Remember the truth found in Heb. 4:13: "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and
laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

Let us have the courage to repent when we find ourselves dirtied with sin. If sin is wreaking havoc in your relationships with friends, family, and Jesus Christ -- resolve now that you are going to do something about it! Doing so will help you to realize many of the blessings of this life and joyously anticipate the life that is to come.

By Matthew Allen, via. Gospel Power, Vol. 12, No. 33,
August 14, 2005.

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