But Not the Consequences

Read: James 1:12-16

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.                                                            James 1:15 

     The explosion of the passenger airship Hindenburg on May 26, 1937, sent shock waves throughout the world. As the airship attempted to dock in Lakehurst, New Jersey, after its voyage from Frankfurt, Germany, witnesses reported seeing a flame shoot out of its side just before the entire aircraft was engulfed in flame. There is much discussion about exactly how long it took for the entire airship to be destroyed, but it was most likely between thirty-two and thirty-seven seconds. One expert even suggested that it may have only taken sixteen seconds to completely destroy the fabric-covered frame. Some researchers have suspected sabotage, but the most plausible explanation for the disaster is the build-up of static electricity that cased a spark to ignite the gases within the airship, causing it to explode. At any rate, at a time least expected, the Hindenburg detonated and was gone in less than a minute.

     Sin is much like the Hindenburg. People sin and feel as if they are getting away with it because nothing happens to them the instant those sins are committed; but they are slowly building up to disaster. The static charge that seems to have caused the explosion was something that did not just occur in a matter of minutes. It probably took the entire flight (and even the extra hours the airship spent waiting for thunderstorms to clear so it could land) to build up the amount of electricity needed to bring down such a huge balloon. You see, you can choose the sin, but you cannot choose the consequences. Once the Hindenburg started to go up in flames, there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. Sin may come with all its enjoyments and promises of pleasure, but in the end, it leads to destruction and death.

     The explosion of the Hindenburg did not just destroy the airship and cause a loss for the company. Thirty-six lives were also lost as a result. You may think that when you choose to ignore the law of God that your sin will only affect you, but your sin has far-reaching consequences that affect everyone around you, including your family. 

     You may “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” propped up by the devil’s lies that everything will be okay, but you can be assured that one day everything will come crashing down around you when God requires you to sit at the banquet of consequences. 

Quote of the day: “The harvest of judgment is sure as soon as the seed is sown.”