Sin Stinks

 “My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness (sins).”

Psalms 38:5

Sight and Sound in Lancaster always does such an outstanding job in all of their productions. We look forward to each one. Years ago, we saw “Jonah” and it was fantastic. I’m sure you are all familiar with the story of Jonah, but I will give a short recap of his story just to refresh your memory. The people of Nineveh were evil people who had invaded and killed many in Jonah’s country. God spoke to Jonah one day and told him that He wanted Jonah to:

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.”

Jonah 1:2

Jonah hated these people and wanted nothing to do with them much less go and try to save them from God’s judgment, so he ran and tried to hide from God. Really? Did he really think that he could hide from an all-knowing and all-seeing God? We think we can sometimes, don’t we? He ended up getting on a ship in Joppa headed for Tarshish thinking that he could get even farther away from God’s presence. While on board, a storm arises, and it’s discovered that Jonah is the reason for the raging waters all around them. Jonah told the men on the ship about his disobedience and told them to throw him overboard and the sea would calm. The storm got so violent, that even though they didn’t want to, to save their own lives they threw Jonah over the side of the ship. (Let me stop here and ask, did you ever wonder why, if Jonah knew he was the reason for the storm, why didn’t he just jump out of the boat himself? Interesting to think about and another devotional could probably be written about that.)

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

Ecclesiastes 10:1

God had prepared a “great fish” to swallow Jonah. Even then God was giving Jonah another chance because he could have just drowned, end of story. But God showed His mercy once again to Jonah. Thank God that He shows His mercy to us every day. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalms 103:8 Thank God that we don’t always get what we deserve. Jonah spent 3 days and nights in the belly of the fish. Can you imagine the stench? Can you imagine the thoughts that must have gone through Jonah’s mind not knowing if he would live or die? He finally cried out to the Lord to forgive him, and the Lord caused the fish to spit Jonah out on land. What a sight he must have been. Stinky, filthy, and hungry.

“And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink;

Isaiah 3:24

Sight and Sound used different “signs” to subtly add to the story. At one point as Jonah is running from God, a skunk appears on the scene and sprays Jonah. In the program brochure they explained that they used this scene because “sin stinks.” I thought that was a great visual (and smelly) illustration of sin. Everywhere Jonah went after that, people would back away from him because of the smell. Sin does that to people. You can try to hide it or mask it with perfume, but still underneath it all, “sin still stinks.” It wasn’t until Jonah asked for God’s forgiveness, that he was truly washed clean and freed from the stench of sin. You may try to hide and mask your sin. Maybe you try to cover it with perfume when you come to church or are around other Christians, but you can’t hide it from God. He knows your heart and He knows your weaknesses. We have all seen the results that sin can bring. Smoking, drinking, and a sinful lifestyle. These are all obvious sins, but you may have secret sins in your life that maybe only you know about. You think that you can hide them and that no one knows. So, before you say to yourself “My sin is not as bad as …,” remember that all sin is the same in God’s eyes. There are no degrees of sin. God knows you better than anyone ever could. He is not standing to condemn, He wants to forgive, but you have to ask. Examine your heart today and ask God what things there are in your life that are a stench to His nostrils. It may not be an easy thing to ask of God, because He will tell you and then you will have to deal with them. We all need to do this, even daily, to have that sweet fragrant walk with God.

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.”

Ephesians 5:1-2