Some months ago we went to a Tractor Pull Event. For those who have never been to one, the purpose of the contest is to see which tractor can pull a wedge shape weighted wedge shaped sled the farthest. If you aren't into agricultural type competitions, it probably sounds really boring to you but for those of us they can be a fun way to spend the afternoon. For me, this particular event provided a great illustration of what I want to talk about today.
Like I mentioned, in a Tractor Pull the object of the event is to pull this heavy object as far as the tractor can pull it. These high powered tractors usually start of strong as they race towards the finish line but they quickly labor and often stall out under the ever increasing resistance of their load. The tractor's wheels start spinning and they often get bogged down and stuck in the mud. It is only when the trailer is unhitched from the tractor can the tractor move again. Sometimes even then only with assistance.
Sin is the trailer in our Lives. At first the effects of sin in our lives is slight but the longer we carry and struggle with it the more difficult it becomes to deal with it. Just like the trailer the tractor pulls, sin will eventually will cause us to stall out. Unlike an actual Tractor Pull where people can unhitch its trailer, only God can unhitch the trailer of sin we drag behind us in our lives. It isn't until that sin is released and Christ helps us are we able to make any headway in our lives. 1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
We humans are incapable of totally living our lives without sinning. Only Christ lived a sinless life. And there is also no way we can cleanse ourselves of our sins by ourselves. Only the forgiving Blood of Christ and His power have the ability to do that. Once we accept our Lord into our lives, His cleansing power is instantaneous and ongoing. It not only addresses the sins we have committed in the past but all those we will certainly commit in the future. Don't misunderstand me here. This doesn't give us license to continue to sin. We are to do our very best to try and not to sin. But we don't struggle in this alone. God's Word provides my proof (actually His promise) of this.
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid." Rom 6:1.
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Gal 5:1
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Rom 5:20
Yes we all will probably commit sins after we have accepted Christ into our hearts but for each of us, our goals should be that we try not to. One of the realities of having a relationship with Christ is that as we draw Closer to Him in that relationship, the closer He draws closer to us. Also, as our relationship with Christ gets closer and closer, the less power sin is going to have over our lives because we will be endeavoring to keep away from sin in all its nasty little attempts to weigh us down and kill us.
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