Sin Destroys

And also, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them. 1 Kings 16:7 (NKJV)

The prophesy serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of heeding God's warnings. King Baasha had sinned against the Lord, causing Israel to worship pagan gods instead of the one true God. Because of that, not only Baasha, but his whole family suffered. After his death, Zimri, his military leader killed his son Elah and the rest of his family, fulfilling God's prophesy against Baasha. His sin caused the destruction of his whole family.

Like King Baasha, sin can destroy those around us by creating a chain reaction of consequences that affect not only us, but also those around us who we love. It can lead to broken relationships, hurt feelings, and a loss of trust. Romans 14:7 says, "For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone." This verse reminds us that our actions have consequences that can impact not only ourselves but also those around us. It doesn't matter if it is alcoholism, drug use, pornography, anger, gambling, or a multitude of other sins. The ones that care for us also suffer when we sin.

Choose to not let your sin destroy those you love. Join a faith-based recovery program like Celebrate Recovery and give your hurts, habits, and hang-up to Jesus who died for your sins. Admit that you do not have the strength to beat your addiction alone and give it to Jesus. Find a sponsor and make a list of accountability partners that you can call when you feel weak. Do an ongoing inventory of your actions and promptly make amends when you fall. Your sin can cause destruction in your community, but your community can help you destroy your sin. Don't fight it alone.