The Most Dangerous Crisis

Constant Crisis

In life we are treated to a great number of crises, be they real or imagined. There are crisis events worthy of our attention: natural disasters, wars and the promise of wars, disease outbreaks, etc. When there is no crisis in the world to report for the day, many actively search out something to report, sometimes “creating” crisis. This is why it has always been a mantra in news media that “if it bleeds, it leads.” It is curious with all the crises we face in life, the most dangerous and damaging crisis of all is never mentioned, or is even considered as a problem. The oldest crisis of man: the crisis of sin.

Sin creates numerous temporal crises in one’s life.

These crises cover a wide spectrum all singly caused by a sinful choice. The consequence of a simple lie can blossom into grand scandals. The legal system recognizes this fact by prosecuting the crime of perjury – a crime which has its roots in the command to “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exo. , NASU). The consequences of substance abuse and sexual proclivity can lead to disease and worse, not to mention the emotional damage which is sometimes hard to define. It is almost as if God desired to protect us from such temporal pain by teaching us His Law concerning sin.

Sin creates a grand eternal crisis.

There is no earthly crisis (either caused by sin or by simple chance) which can compare with the danger of this crisis. This is because there is no force on earth which can destroy the soul in the same manner as sin. When Paul declares “…the wages of sin is death…” in Romans , he is describing a fate worse than physical death. When Christ describes the danger of sin leading to “outer darkness” where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mat. ), He describes the greatest possible horror. But, perhaps the most sobering prospect of this crisis is that unlike wars and rumors of wars, or natural disasters, this danger is certain. One may worry about future possibilities; one in sin faces the certainty of death.

A Universal Crisis

It is for these reasons that sin is the most dangerous crisis in the life of every man and woman on earth. Praise be to God that through His Son this crisis can be averted in the life of anyone, if they choose to obey Him. Perhaps in our “crisis-focused” life it would be wise to remember the words of Christ: “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat. ).