THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A children's director decided to take all the children camping one Friday evening. They made camp, and then took a "nature hike." As they were walking the director would point out things God had made, and they would discuss WHY God had made them. They all discussed the reason behind trees, rocks, hills, streams, animals, etc.
Then one child asked, "If God made everything for a purpose, why did He create poison ivy?"
The director was trying to think of a reason, when one of the older children saved him. The little boy said, "Well, God wanted us to know there are some things we need to keep our cotton-pickin' hands off of."
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James 1:13-16
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
(KJV)
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Yes, God has created all things. But God is not the creator of sin. Neither is God tempted with sin. Quite the opposite, God is disgusted with sin.
Sin did not originate with the Creator, but with the created. Moral depravity is not due to the order of God, but to the disorder of man.
Just as it did in the beginning (Genesis 3:6), sin appeals to the tripartite nature of man. It appeals to our bodily pleasure, emotional pleasure and mental pleasure. Therefore, as James points out, sin appeals to our "lust."
However, what God wants us to know is that the appealing nature of sin should not culminate in the participation of sin. Just as God told Cain (Genesis 4:7), "sin lieth at the door." But one doesn't have to OPEN the door!
In fact, James tells us (verse 16 of our text) that to open the door to sin is to ERR. When we are tempted with sin, let us remember the admonition of Paul.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
Love ya,
Bruce
mcge3582@bellsouth.net
http://www.linktojesus.org/
Schools inform a man, sin deforms a man, but only Christ can transform a man.