Don't Do It!!

In the story of the Invalid man at the pool of Bethesda, we learn an important lesson from Jesus with a simple sentence that he spoke to the man at the end of the account. Here is the entire account for you to read before I get into it:

John 5:1-15 NCV

[1] Later Jesus went to Jerusalem for a special feast. [2] In Jerusalem there is a pool with five covered porches, which is called Bethesda in the Hebrew language. This pool is near the Sheep Gate. [3] Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed [, and they waited for the water to move. [4] Sometimes an angel of the Lord came down to the pool and stirred up the water. After the angel did this, the first person to go into the pool was healed from any sickness he had]. [5] A man was lying there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. [6] When Jesus saw the man and knew that he had been sick for such a long time, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be well?” [7] The sick man answered, “Sir, there is no one to help me get into the pool when the water starts moving. While I am coming to the water, someone else always gets in before me.” [8] Then Jesus said, “Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk.”  [9] And immediately the man was well; he picked up his mat and began to walk. The day this happened was a Sabbath day. [10] So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “Today is the Sabbath. It is against our law for you to carry your mat on the Sabbath day.” [11] But he answered, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” [12] Then they asked him, “Who is the man who told you to pick up your mat and walk?” [13] But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, because there were many people in that place, and Jesus had left. [14] Later, Jesus found the man at the Temple and said to him, “See, you are well now. Stop sinning so that something worse does not happen to you.” [15] Then the man left and told his people that Jesus was the one who had made him well.

https://bible.com/bible/105/jhn.5.1-15.NCV

After all the excuses the man gave as to why he wasn't healed after being sick for 38 years, Jesus compassionately healed the man which was awesome! However, when Jesus saw the man later at the temple, he said a simple sentence to the man which had broad and far-reaching implications:

[14] Later, Jesus found the man at the Temple and said to him, “See, you are well now. Stop sinning so that something worse does not happen to you.” 

There it is. "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." The man must have done some sin which caused him to be sick for 38 years. 

The lesson as old as the Garden of Eden is that sin has consequences. Something always happens as a result of a sin someone has committed. This sentence is a cautionary tale in itself. The lesson? My dear readers, do not get wrapped up in sin because "something worse may happen to you."

Sin in any of its forms is not to be messed with. Do not think you can dabble in it, tinker with it, play around with it, or flirt with it. It will consume you, devour you, enslave you, and ultimately destroy you. It is not to be taken lightly. This is so serious. 

At the beginning, God told Cain exactly what I'm saying now:

Genesis 4:7b. NIV

[7b.]...But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Look at God's terminology here: "sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you." What does that sound like to you? Sounds to me like a lion getting ready to pounce on someone and kill and eat them. See the severity of sin with this one sentence? Sin is serious with serious life-altering consequences. Ultimately, it can kill you. "The wages of sin is death."(Rom.6:23a. NIV)

So, as God's children, don't have anything to do with it in its various forms. Don't think about sins, or what everyone else is doing, protect yourself. Don't give any sins that are all around you the time of day. Ignore it all, because we do not want the consequences of it!! Plus, haven't we had enough of it anyway?

1 Peter 4:3 NCV

[3] In the past you wasted too much time doing what nonbelievers enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and hateful idol worship. 

Do not focus on sin, because what you focus on is who you will become. Don't do it!

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post