Why Do I Sin?

Last week the Atlanta Braves were scheduled to play three games against the White Sox in Chicago.  I’m writing this column the day of the second game. They played eight innings the previous day before the rains came. It’s supposed to snow with temperatures in the thirties. It is highly likely that they will not play the next two days.

            I wonder, why in the world does major league baseball schedule games in Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia in late March/early April instead of places like Atlanta, Miami, Tampa and Houston.  I know that the teams in the northern parts of the nation want some home games in the early weeks of the season. But it’s cold and snows up there, sometimes until Macon.  The game yesterday (when I was writing) was played in 40-degree weather with some rain all the way through. Meanwhile, it was 75 and sunny in Atlanta. 

            Again, my question is simple. Why? And yet…

            Why do I do things that I know are wrong? Why do I commit the same sins over and over? And don’t act like I’m the only one.  You do it, too.  But here is a bit of encouragement for us all. We are in good company. 

            In Romans 7 Paul talked about the power and lure of sin.  He wrote, “I do not understand my own actions., For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” And just a few verses later we read, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep doing.”  Paul, the apostle, struggled with sin in his life, just as we do. 

            Jesus said to His disciples, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  He knew us better than we know ourselves.  Now, listen. I’m not giving us an excuse for poor behavior.  I am simply saying that the struggle is real. And there is good news. Hebrews 4:15 tells us thar our high priest, Jesus, has been tempted as we are. He knows what we are going through. And John wrote, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

            We can defeat sin. We can live for the Lord. But we will stumble from time to time. When we do (1 John 2:2) we have one on whom we can call. Trust Him today. He will help you through.