We will be entering Lent at the end of February, which is traditionally a time when Christians reflect on their lifestyle and try even harder to give up those things that offend God. We all have a bias to sin; Scripture tells us that ‘We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 5 v 12), and because of this, sin has spread to the whole human race. Maybe an example will help us to understand.

When God made the world, it was if he made a boat for the first couple and told them to go and explore their surroundings. He warned them that certain coves had sharp rocks just beneath the surface, and if they were to go there they could bring disaster or death. The couple enjoyed cruising in their boat whose engine was fuelled by oil.

One day the beauty of a certain cave seemed to call them, and as they neared it their boat was pierced by a sharp rock. Thick slimy oil coated the sea, sand, rocks, birds, and fish. They got the strongest detergent they could find, but it did not do any good - everything was polluted.

When God saw what had happened, he was saddened at the devastation they had brought on themselves. The couple became boat builders, but every boat they made was flawed and oil leaked from every one. God mounted a rescue operation - He sent his Son into the world to show the couple and their descendants how to deal with this devastation. When God’s Son died, His shed blood became an effective detergent for dealing with this oil slick.

Search me O my God and know my heart.
Test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any offensiveness in me,
And lead me in Your way.
Psalm 139:23 - 24