Can we lift the weight of sin with our intellect?

Can we lift the weight of sin with our intellet?

As we grow in maturity the use of intelligence plays a serious role in choosing the correct  path in making decisions of right or wrong.  However, to understand the dichotomy of moral choices we must have a background of understanding temptations in lieu of actual sin.

This is where the ability to discern what really is a temptation and how to avoid its trap of pleasing any number of pleasures that one cannot do without.  Comparing the temptations the devil used on Jesus were not the same as anyone of us would be enticed with.  Although the devil used the current needs of Jesus after he was tired and hungry it was really one final blow for the Son of God to reject his mission and disallow the way to forgive humanity of their sins.  Satan never forgot his being dispelled from heaven and even now he has not let go of placing his pride before God by removing as many Christians from their trust in Christ.  

It is sin that can lead us away from our faith which will remove the grace we receive for our trust in God’s mercy.  We may listen to preaching or read the bible through absorbing the teaching of Christ.  But unless we find and adhere to the truth of Christ’s Passion the intellect we seem to have will not be enough.  This again presents a need to understand what all of this suffering that Christ endured was more than just making a spectacle of the Roman’s evil manner of punishment.  The two criminals crucified alongside Jesus were punished for their individual crimes.  Jesus’ crucifixion, unknown to the Romans, was because he became the very sins of past sinners and those who would live forever more.  Even Satan could not accept this way that God chose to redeem humanity.  As Jesus cried out “It is finished” (Jn 19: 30), Satan’s plan fell apart and signed his eventual demise in Hell for all eternity. 

We can never speak out about sin enough and its very manner of seducing human beings in such a way that its subtleness looks like the very need we seem to hold onto.  If sin looked like an evil picture of the devil with a pitch fork in his hands waiting to spear us we would turn and run.  The devil is too clever to allow such a sight.  If we are attracted to the beauty of the opposite sex, one who appears to be a beauty contest for a man or a body-builder with muscles oozing all over for a woman.  Whatever is our weakness is the image that will pull us into a trap that once it has a hold on our sensual needs is what will take hold of our sense of right and twist our mind to leave all morality outside our sense of wrongdoing.  

Many will say that to sin is to walk away from the morality we have been taught about God and the righteousness of his goodness.  We must remember that the one gift God gave to each person is our free will.  Through this undeniable treasure we have the opportunity to seek God on our own initiative.  No coercing from God.  It becomes the manner we adopt to seek what is good and eternal with God that will use free will to find the holiness that is God alone.

Ralph B. Hathaway