A Prison We Build For Ourselves

In 1853, a contractor named John Coffee was hired to build a new jail in the town of Dundalk, Ireland. The project, however, proved too much, and during the construction, Coffee went bankrupt. Unable to pay his debt, he was sentenced to serve time.

He became his jail’s very first inmate.

Sin works the same way. At the start, it seems like we are in control of it. But the longer it lasts, the more it takes over. Then, sooner or later, what we thought we were in charge of is now the very thing that traps us.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

James 1:14-15

Sin is a prison we build for ourselves. The only escape comes when one is willing to pay the debt that put us there. Sin is too much for us. We are not controlling it; it is capturing us. Only in Christ can our debt be paid and our freedom found.

Don’t think you handle sin, or you just might be its newest inmate.

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