Sin often begins as a tiny ripple of thought— an internal temptation—that swells into a tidal wave of catastrophe destroying virtually everything in its wicked wake (James 1:14-15). Many lives are swept up in the chaotic consequences created by another’s sinful choice. Because of one person’s sin, spouses and children weep while families are destroyed, friendships are rent asunder, godly influence is traded away for a selfish desire and souls are often lost for eternity.
Sin always has a devastating impact upon the one who commits the action (Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:20). Sin creates a division between the individual and the Creator (Isaiah 59:1-3). Yet, the devastation rarely stops there. In a selfish attempt to minimize and excuse sinful actions, many will claim the transgression never hurt anyone else or never affected other aspects of their lives. The deceitfulness of sin hardens our hearts and blinds us to the reality of the utter destruction caused by our actions (Hebrews 3:13).
In 2 Samuel 11-12, we see the devastation that started out as one man’s lustful thought. David allowed a tiny ripple of sin to flood his life. A moment of unrestrained lust led to adultery, lies, deception, conspiracy and murder. David’s sin devastated his relationship with God and his personal life. However, David’s sin did not only affect him. His choice to fulfill his lust impacted the lives of Bathsheba, Uriah, Joab, his own son and ultimately an entire nation.
Just like David, our own sin when allowed to grow and fester will create a series of unanticipated and unintended consequences. Failure to truly acknowledge and repent of sin will harden our hearts and compromise our ability to make good decisions. David’s sin of adultery could have stopped there. However, because David was unwilling to honestly face his own actions, he resorted to lying and murder in an attempt to cover up and escape the consequences of his actions. In fact, the tiny ripple from a sinful thought and the catastrophic wake that followed could have been prevented altogether (1 Corinthians 10:13). He could have chosen to look away and go back into his home.
By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we are able to see hope in this mess created by sin. Nathan, the prophet, was convicted in his obedience to God enough and compassionate toward David’s soul enough to confront the king and expose the sin that David had tried so hard to conceal (Galatians 6:1-5). David confessed his sin both privately (2 Samuel 12:13) and publicly (Psalm 32), even writing about the devastation that he had caused (Psalm 51). Just as sin has a ripple effect, so does righteousness. By one man’s courage, conviction and compassion, David’s heart was once again able to be softened.
Like David, we all sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), but we need to humbly submit to God’s will and not to allow our hearts to become hardened. Like Nathan, we must have the courage, conviction and compassion to confront sin and promote righteousness. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
