Escaping the Snare of Sin
I heard that in India someone came up with a very clever trap for catching monkeys. They hollow out a coconut and make a hole in the top of the coconut just big enough for the monkey to slide its open hand in but not big enough for the monkey to withdraw its hand as a fist. Then they put some pieces of banana inside. Next they use a rope to attach the coconut to the tree. Later a monkey comes along and puts his hand into the coconut to grab the tasty banana. The only thing that keeps the monkey from walking away is the desire to pull out the sweet fruit.
Escaping is easy. Nothing other than the desire to eat the banana traps the monkey and takes away his freedom. Yet the monkeys refuse to release the fruit and are easily captured.
Sadly, far too many people realize that many times we are our own worst enemy. We have become slaves to sin or prisoners of our compulsive habits, while freedom lies right in front of us. There are no chains wrapped around us holding us in jail. At any time, we can let go of whatever it is we have been holding onto for so long.
Are you trapped by your attachment to your habitual sin? You probably already know how destructive the consequences of sin are. When we give into selfish desires we hurt ourselves, we harm others and we disappoint our Lord.
The Lord has a banquet waiting for us, a feast of love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, etc.
Settling for a small morsel that the devil offer’s us cannot compare with the abundant life Jesus offers all of those who take up their cross and follow him.
Letting go of sin may seem almost impossible in the moment, but I don’t think any of us want to be compared to the trapped monkey who foolishly looses his freedom, when he could choose to let go and walk away.
Today I thank God that after being held hostage to compulsive pornography for over three decades I finally got the help I needed to let go of the illusion of happiness and discover the peace that passes understand which Jesus offers you and me.
There is hope for you. Jesus is here to help you. Take the first step today. Let go of what has ensnared you for so long and run for help. Many have found freedom and you can too.
Learn more about finding victory over habitual sin in the book: Jesus Is Better Than Porn
