Comparing Sin To The Midway

It's that time of year. The beginning of the school year, the Kansas State Fair hits town, and schedule shifts, changes, and work life becomes total chaos. It means I blog a little less for a spell, but things will calm soon. I am so counting on that!

I took my kids to the fair twice this year. The first time was on the dollar night where every ride is just a buck. It's a single mother's best option and the ride tickets go a LONG way! As we walked around the midway, I found myself noticing how everything looked so enticing.

The flashing lights.
The hip, but inappropriate music lyrics.
The undressed and partially dressed people.
The inappropriate dress.
The sexy allure of the young generation to "be part of the crowd".
The harsh language.
The food that clogs our arteries and how we eat as much of it as we can.
The fast and slick people who design the games to leave us more than broke.
The temptation to stick around even though it is really time to leave.

The night at the fair turned into something that reminded me so much of sin. At first it may seem enticing. It may have an allure. And we think we can stay on top of it. Control it. Until we realize that the initial temptation and self control we thought we had has prevented us too from stepping away from it when we knew we should have.

It's like that evil roller coaster that looked so cool at first. But once we got in and sat down, we couldn't get out. We were strapped in to something out of control, spinning, going upside down, and what started as fun turned into sheer terror. I think we've all been in those kinds of situations when we think that we can just get off the ride whenever we want to.

Sin is like being on a death ride that doesn't stop until every passenger has his life sucked out of him or her, and Satan is in the control tower.

The entire first night as I looked around, I just kept asking God, "How? Why? Does this break your heart after all you have done for us?" I just imagined God looking down from heaven onto this filthy, stinky, sin filled earth, and wondered what it is like for him to see this. I can't even fathom the grace He extends to us, the redemption in His perfect son that He has given us, and the love He has for each of us. I know if it were me, I'd snap my fingers and all of mankind would be dust. I'm sure that's because I have an attitude instead of grace. I'm aware of my short-comings and faults, lol!

Thinking about that really had an impact on my heart. And I am still thinking about how that makes me want to change the way I see those tempting neon signs that flash when sin is trying to captivate me. I hope that this will be a constant reminder of how slick and sneaky sin can be.

I don't care how sin is disguised to look fun or glamorous or hip. It's one ride I don't want to wait in line to ride, and I certainly don't want to explain to God that I actually purchased a ticket for it.