Gavin, Lisa & Anna Nicole
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?"
If you're like me and have paid the slightest attention to the news this past week, you've witnessed the very sad spectacle of human weakness, sin and it’s natural consequences. If you ever doubted that human nature is essentially bad or flawed, this week’s events should have put those doubts to rest.
I was the least bit surprised by this latest episode of human frailty as it reinforced to me a principle that runs throughout the entire Word of God from Genesis to Revelation; "the wages of sin is death" (or destruction)!
There is always a consequence or result from our actions. Don’t think so? Well, just take a look at this headline grabbing stories. First, there’s the case of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who admitted to being involved in an affair with his campaign manager’s wife. Result, one marriage possibly ruined beyond repair and the untold damage and to two families, friends and coworkers.
Still not convinced? Well here’s another one.
There’s the story of American astronaut, Lisa Marie Nowak. Ms Nowak was recently arrested and is being charged with attempted first-degree murder. You see, Ms Nowak was involved in a love triangle with a fellow NASA astronaut and the female Air Force Captain he was seeing. Driven by jealousy, and perhaps mental illness, she tried to rid the object of affection of her presumed lover. Again, damaged lives and destroyed families scattered all around.
Need more?Well, finally, there's the sad and tragic life (and death) of former Playboy Centerfold turned millionaire heiress, turned sick-pop-culture icon extraordinaire, Anna Nicole Smith. See, Anna played a dangerous game of cat and mouse with drugs and alcohol trying to cover up her deep hurts and empty life. Anna lost.Now all that’s left are a wasted life, an orphaned infant, lies, innuendos, and broken lives. Was living a life of blatant debauchery, materialism and sin really worth all of this? I bet if we could some how ask Anna this question today, her answer would be an unequivocal, “No!”
If I had the time and the inclination, I could offer you scores of examples more. This has been the sad and sordid human story throughout the ages. For, since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin has reeked it's havoc on the entire human race.
This is the reason why I am so thankful to God for His Son, Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the sacrifice of His life upon the cross on Calvary, atoning for sin once and for all, both your sin and mine. In order that sin no longer rules over us and that He may present, before God the Father, all those who partake of His sacrifice, as a bride without spot or blemish.
For Further Reading
Chuck Colson, BreakPoint Commentary No. 070309, “Booze Didn't Make You Do It.”
