How to sin

Everybody is prone to wrongs. That's the human nature. The moment we were born, we were born into a nature where it's natural to lean towards wrong while doing right is a struggle. It has been so following the FALL in the Garden of Eden since the beginning of time. That's why today we have laws, prisons, governance, etc because the human nature can't help but sin. However, one of the blessings of the human nature is God created us with a freewill, the ability to choose. The result of who we are or what we are today is a result of our choosing, not fate which is a convenient way of excusing oneself from predicament and failure. Before an act of wrong (sin) is committed, there is a process that leads to it. Looking back at Genesis 3 we can observe a pattern.

1. Sight
To get the attention of Eve so as to entice her to choose according to his favor, Satan drew Eve's attention to the fruits of the forbidden tree. She looked at the fruit and SAW that it was good. There is a huge difference between looking and staring. I can't help but to look at whatever is before my eyes but when I allow myself to stare at something , I am going beyond looking.  I am in fact dwelling on what I am looking at. I am staring, intentionally looking. That's why pornography appeals to the human nature. When Potiphar's wife appeared before Joseph naked, Joseph did not dwell on his glance. He did not stare. He looked away and fled. So be careful little eyes what you see. The eye is the window to the soul.

2. Talk
Yea, we all yak away the whole day long. Some more than others. Some unceasingly. There are those who intentionally took the vow of silence and there's this song with these lyrics: "silence is golden but my eyes still see". Talk means to converse, to articulate. As a teenage boy, my buddies and I would gather together at night and we would narrate ghost stories. Didn't have internet back then so that's what we did. We talked a lot. We made up stories. Needless to say, once a while there would be a nightmare or two. What we talked about dwelled in our mind affecting both our consciousness and sub consciousness. I sometimes wonder if such conversations had altered our psychological profiles (hahaha). Anyway, the fact is when we talk about something we should not be talking about too much or  too often, like the eyes, they lead us astray. Eve shouldn't have had that conversation with the devil KNOWING what God had cautioned. But against better judgement (like most thinking people) Eve succumbed one step further into the path that led to sin. Like a dynamite, the fuse is lit. So be careful little mouth what you speak.

3. Touch
Eve took the fruit from the tree. She knew she was not supposed to TOUCH it, let alone plucked it. In one of my classes with the teens on the subject matter on sex, I asked them what they thought were boundaries as to what is permissible and what's not permissible when it comes to touch whether it relates to a family member or peers. Touch leads to desires so it is important to bring to their attention what is appropriate and what is not. Touch is powerful. It means you are reaching out. When Jesus reached out and touch somebody, He healed. When Eve reached out and touch the forbidden fruit, it led to the path of destruction, of forfeiture. So be careful little hand what you touch.

4. Action
After long hours and days, even months of preparations and rehearsals, FINALLY comes the act. Curtains are drawn and the show begins. What “movies” you are watching today depends on what got you here through sight, talk and touch. Eve looked, talked about it, touched it. Now her desires for it grew to the extent she was willing to forfeit all that God had prepared for her in exchange for that one moment of pleasure. She acted accordingly. She plucked and she ate the forbidden fruit. The rest was history. So becareful what you do.

Now you know how to sin. Let me conclude by saying this. There was a time when mankind could not help but sin as a result of what happened at Eden. Look into history and you'll see they broke all the laws, including the Ten Commandments. They indulged in all kinds of debauchery, evil and wickedness. They killed prophets sent by God and eventually they crucified Jesus. Thinking that was the end of it, it was in fact the beginning of God's blessings upon mankind. Man, who had no control over the desire to sin now have redemption. Through a new birth in Jesus's name, once again we have the ability to exercise freewill to choose good over bad, right over wrong. Bondages are broken. Sins are forgiven and erased by the Blood of Jesus. But the battle between good and evil is still raging. However, we have help and we are never alone. God has given us the Holy Spirit. We are more than conquerors in Jesus' name. We are no longer victims but victors. We have been redeemed from the curse of the law. There's only one thing that God requires of us in order to live the victorious life. Stick close to God at all times! Do read Deuteronomy 28. The ball is in your court.

 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!” (2 Cor 5:17).

Knowing how to sin helps you avoid sinning. But alas … not all will take heed.