"Caught in a Snare"

"And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them." (Psalms 106:36)

 It is pretty obvious that we cannot obey and disobey; we cannot serve two masters! From the time that the children of Israel compromised the command that they were given, that opened the door to further compromise. It is pretty much a slippery slope, once you are on it, it takes your ability to stand away. Imagine what this must have looked like, God's people trading off serving the God who saved them from bondage, for serving gods that brought them back into bondage. The word "snare," unlike most traps that might be noticed as a trap, this is speaking about something that lures, as in a bait. What would cause someone to go from serving the living God to serving idols? Personally, I think that it would be sin. Pastor Bryan gave us an illustration Sunday about the difference between sin, transgression, and iniquity; but the funny or not so funny thing is, if our sin goes unconfessed, we will end up in transgression, and transgression will always lead us into iniquity. It is a lot like what God had cautioned Cain about, "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you, But you must subdue it and be its master." (Genesis 4:7 NLT) The initial sin would be refusing to do what is right. We all know the difference between right and wrong; it is really not a secret that is hidden from our hearts, it only becomes hidden because we ignore what is right and choose to do what is wrong. But when we do, then like a snare, we are trapped; sin then becomes our master. I know it sounds a little far fetched and almost supernatural, but that's because it is supernatural; it is because it is something that we cannot control. God instructed Cain that he must subdue sin and be its master, but doing what is wrong pretty much takes that option away. You cannot do what is wrong and still control sin; if you think it is possible, then ask David how that went with him. Sin leads to trespass, and trespass will lead us into iniquity; it will happen pretty much every time. That said, we do have a supernatural answer to sin, and we are able to subdue it and make it our master, but we need to be vicious...

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) KJV