The "Hamster Wheel" of Sin

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 24:17, Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.

What a statement, and what a testimony. Could what was said of David be said of any of us in dealing with those who persecute us or mistreat us? David’s enemy, Saul, who had no real basis for his animosity, acknowledged David’s righteousness in the situation, and also acknowledged that his own action were less than honorable. David, in being given opportunity to take the life of the one who pursued him, instead chose to spare his life and leave vengeance in God’s hands (Romans 12:14-21). However, if we look closely at Saul’s statement we can see evidence of Saul unrepentance. It will become plain to see later, when he once again pursues David, that the words spoken for this moment in time are merely lip service. Quite often, when we are brought face to face with our sinful ways, we admit that we are sinning, but we fail to acknowledge it as God sees it. Depending on the circumstances behind the discovery, what often happens is that we admit what we have done, but along with the admission there is a series of explanations justifying why we did it, or why we are doing it. What ultimately happens is that there is confession without repentance, which then leads to repetition, once the immediate consequences die down. Essentially, we end up on the “hamster wheel” of sin; no matter how often we confess it, we end up going nowhere fast in our walk with Jesus. In Saul’s confession of David’s righteousness, and his (Saul’s) own unrighteous actions, he never admits to being a wicked man. Far too often, this is how we confess. We admit our actions, but we fail to call it sin as God calls it sin, and we fail to acknowledge who we really are, wretched sinners saved by grace caught in the middle of a war between the spirit and the flesh. Galatians 5:16-18 puts it this way, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” The fact of the matter is that all of us, at some point in our lives, will find ourselves on either side of the fence. We will either be a “David” who is persecuted and mistreated for no valid reason, and have an opportunity to demonstrate our trust in the Lord by not returning evil for evil, but instead returning good for evil, or we will be a “Saul”, falsely persecuting and sinning against another, willing to confess it when caught, but failing to repent of, or turning completely from, our sinful ways. When we find ourselves in this place, let us not just give God our lip service. 1 John 1:8-10 reminds us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Confession is not enough to take us off the “hamster wheel” of sin. I can confess that I am slapping you, while I am still slapping you, and continue to do so, unless I choose to repent, or turn from doing what I am doing, and stop the wrong action against you. Saul’s words sounded good. The fact that his life was spared caused him to refrain from harming David, but his heart was still far from God; thereby only delaying his sinfulness from resurfacing. In Matthew 15:7-8 Jesus put it this way, “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’” It is time for us to get off the “hamster wheel” and get back on solid ground, walking in righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus, for the sake of honoring Him with our lives.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).