Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutesI write this after an interesting experience with my 2 year old, Anna. Her older sister has a bracelet-making kit shaped like a briefcase that Anna wanted to play with, but was told not to open. I knew she would disobey, but watching her sin nature reveal itself displayed a lot about our own sinfulness.
#1 Sin begins with our desires
When small children want something, there’s little within themselves that will choose to obedience over indulgence. Anna wanted to do something she’s gotten in trouble for many times before.
She didn’t need the briefcase for pretend play. She easily could have set it aside, knowing that she wouldn’t be content to toe the line and use her sister’s kit in a way that was allowed. She could have played with anything else that had no way of getting her in trouble.
By keeping her desire nearby, I watched the temptation grow. She slowly started looking through the clear case at the contents inside. She started lightly touching the latch.
Like me and you so often do, she found herself slowly giving in to what she knew was wrong.
But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15)
#2 It wants to be hidden
Eventually, she started glancing up at me to see if I’d stop her, trying to keep her head down so I wouldn’t see her looking. Being less coy than she is, I stared directly at her. I didn’t give her “the look,” but I made it clear I saw her. I even gently reminded her not to open it.
She slowly retreated behind her play kitchen, sitting on the floor so she’d block my line of sight (not realizing I could simply lean to the right and see her). But she didn’t dive into her sin right away! She spent some time running her fingers around the case, lightly flicking the latches, and talking to herself. All the while she kept popping her head up just to make sure Daddy wasn’t watching her.
She felt confident that she was hidden, and that made her feel free to finally give in to what she knew was wrong.
For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. (John 3:20)
#3 It hurts our father
Feeling confident that she was thoroughly hidden and wouldn’t have me intervening, she popped the case open and stuck her hand in. After keeping her temptation close at hand, pushing her limits without going too far, and then isolating herself… you and I knew where this situation was leading. Yet despite that, it still weighed heavily on my heart to see someone I love so much give in to what she knew was wrong.
She was surprised to see me standing next to her, wondering how she got caught (again). Knowing what she did, she immediately broke down in tears when she looked up at me. She understood, even at 2 years old, that she’d caused a divide between us.
But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. (Isaiah 59:2)
Yet even when we sin…
I dealt with her as a loving father must. Never in anger, but out of love for wanting to see her grow, mature, and learn to reject sin. She accepted her punishment, I comforted her sadness, and she apologized for her disobedience. She was forgiven, and in a few moments she was snuggling in my lap while we read her princess board book for the 8th time this week.
Children are honest, wonderful insights into how sinful we truly are. They show how easily we fall into temptations, how our sinful hearts produce sinful actions, and how much we love that sin for a brief moment.
Yet our Heavenly Father is perfect, always able to forgive our foolishness through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We repented of our sins for salvation, and we continue to repent as we learn to love what God loves and hate what He hates.
But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
