Something Stinks!

Something Stinks!

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

“Come on, Angela, try it,” coaxed Mira after taking a puff from a cigarette Jane had passed to her.

Angela shook her head. “No, thanks.” She knew that smoking was bad for her body so it was displeasing to God, but she didn’t say anything about that. Mira and Jane were popular at school, and Angela was excited that they had included her.

Later, Angela held her hand over her nose as she entered her grandparents’ kitchen. “What’s that horrible smell?” she asked.

“Smell?” echoed Grandpa as he sat down at the kitchen table. “Oh, you must smell the sauerkraut we had for lunch. It has a strong odor, but we’ve gotten so used to it that we don’t smell it anymore.”

“What’s sauerkraut?” asked Angela.

“Sauerkraut is a German word that means ‘sour cabbage,’” replied Grandma.

“It smells awful!” declared Angela. “I think I need a clothespin for my nose.”

Grandpa laughed. Then he said thoughtfully, “It reminds me of sin, Angela. When we’re first saved, we often are very aware of sin—it’s as though we can ‘smell’ how horrible it is. But if we stay around it long enough, we get used to the ‘smell,’ and it doesn’t bother us anymore.”

“And another thing,” added Grandma, “the smell of sauerkraut can get into our clothes, and it gets on my hands when I prepare it. Sin is like that too. The ‘stink’ of sin can rub off on us if we’re around it long enough.”

Angela suddenly remembered that sometimes, without meaning to, she would say a swear word she heard her friends use. Could that be a sin she couldn’t “smell” anymore, one that had rubbed off on her? In fact, Mira and Jane did quite a few things Angela knew were wrong. Maybe hanging around them was dulling her “sense of smell.” Being part of their group might not be so great after all. ECO

How about You?

Do you have friends who are doing things you know are wrong? Maybe you find yourself doing those same things so they’ll accept you. If that’s the case, perhaps you should reconsider whom you should have for good friends.

Memorize:

“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

Sin Stinks!