C. S. Lewis says, I think we all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to rejoice as much by anything else.

i believe that another drive of sin is that through sin we have control over our own death. sin leads to death and by sinning we are having a control over our death. this is of course a dysfunctional relationship with sin, but never the less, not one without some power in it. originally Adam had this form of control over his own death, by sinning and causing God to intervene and create death for him and all of us.

we can know that The Lord Jesus Christ has defeated sin and conquered death in our minds, but until joy, which is the fruit of this knowing, consumes our hearts and minds, we will keep on sinning. either by striving in our own strength not to or by being led by temptation to do the things we know we should not do.


the solution is in what C. S. Lewis is saying though. the joy of the Lord in our life can radiate through our being causing the normal dysfunctions of the fallen world to be alien to us. the joy of the Lord is the garden once again, it is the essence of His kingdom. it is His kingdom, the fruit of His promised rest.

all honor to the God and Father of our Lord and Jesus Christ, for it is by His boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. now we live with a wonderful expectationbecause Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.

i will draw all men unto me............