Attending several church events week in and out won’t keep us from sin. The enemy seeks to keep us busy with external appearances, but he knows most of it is might be just a cover up.
Singing in the choir won’t keep us from sin; many sonorous singers wrestle with demons many don’t talk about. Some might sing about God in public but listen to ‘other’ songs in private.
Praying at deafening decibels won’t keep us from sin; we may be filled with God’s Spirit one minute but overwhelmed with lustful desires the next minute.
Reading the Bible from cover to cover won’t keep us from sin if we won’t allow God’s word take root. We may attempt to memorise and recite all the verses but still be up all night chatting with the wrong people about the wrong things.
Listening to several podcasts or sermons from the world’s experts won’t keep us from sin, all of that information could be in one ear and out the other, we may manage to keep up with our streaks but the enemy knows we’ll still end up doing whatever we really want to do.
Preaching several sermons about holiness and sanctification won’t keep us from sin; we may study so hard, cross-referencing commentaries and concordances to prepare for a preaching presentation, but still end up at the backdoor of a brothel.
Hosting so many outreaches in remote locations won’t keep us from sin. We may have all the strategies to win souls written on one app on our phones, but still swipe to inappropriate adult content we may have subscribed to on another app.
Leading, mentoring, and coaching others won’t keep us from sin. We may encourage and challenge others to become the best version of themselves, but still lack the power to make the right decisions ourselves.
Having a godly spouse or being raised in a godly home won’t keep us from sin; we may keep up with appearances, being and doing what people expect us to do but still rely on pins, pills and potions to make it through each day.
Engaging in a lot of charitable work won’t keep us from sin. We may appear to be genuinely interested in caring for people and resolving their many problems but still continue to live a double life without never being caught.
Hanging out with others who act piously won’t keep us from sin; we may act and behave like a Christian in public but still be knee-deep in ungodliness and immorality in secret.
Speaking Christianese won’t keep us from sin. We may impress so many people with our oratory and eloquence, but God knows the depravity of our hearts and all the secrets no one knows about.
Possessing the supernatural ability to heal the sick and raise the dead won’t keep us from sin; we may possess these rare spiritual gifts but still continue to enjoy emotional affairs with members of our congregation.
Speaking in tongues won’t keep us from sin; we might speak both the tongues of men and of angels, but still continue to physically and emotionally abuse our spouses.
Having a large following on social media won’t keep us from sin; projecting a false image, airbrushed and filtered, won’t keep us from engaging in questionable practices behind closed doors.
Wearing a necklace with a crucifix, a clerical collar, or a kippah won’t keep us from sin; all that regalia are bereft of the power to pull us back from bringing shame and disgrace to the name of Christ.
Living in a monastery or nunnery won’t keep us from sin; we may deny ourselves all the pleasures and comforts this world offers but still be unable to tame our unbridled sexual fantasies.
Working as an executive assistant to the Pope or being engaged in full-time ministry won’t keep us from sin, we may keep up with the rituals and routines when the spotlight is on us but still get under the sheets with a bloke or lass who isn’t our spouse.
Returning from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land won’t keep us from sin; we may tick off this laudable task on our bucket lists but still resist submitting to the absolute control of God’s Spirit.
So, what will keep us from sin, if none of these will? Only abiding daily at the foot of the cross. Something happens to our plans, priorities, perspectives and the paths we choose in life, the longer we linger at the cross.
When was the last time I was at the cross? When was the last time I looked again at the dying Lamb? When did I last see His nail-scarred hands and feet? When was the last time I saw blood and water flowing from His sides? How long has it been since I heard the Saviour say, ‘I gave my life for you’? When was the last time I heard Him take his final breath? When was the last time I experienced all the sights and sounds at the cross? When did I last think about the sacrifice that saved me? When was the last time I contemplated on the blood that washed me clean? When was the last time I lingered at the foot of the cross?
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2.20.
Have I really been crucified with Christ?