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When The Robbers Get Robbed

Sin Consequences Karma

Source: "Colorado armed robbers' getaway vehicle stolen during heist in ironic twist" By Louis Casiano, for Fox News, Published December 19, 2023

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-12-19

Scripture: Numbers 32:23 ; Galatians 6:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

In a bizzarre twist of irony, three Colorado armed robbers were thwarted in their effort to rob a check cashing store. According to a Fox News report, 

The masked trio went into the Hi Lo Check Cashing in the Denver suburb of Commerce City just before 11 a.m., the Commerce City Police Department said Tuesday. 

During the heist, a female thief "seized the opportunity to do what criminals do – steal what was very likely already a stolen vehicle," a Tuesday police Facebook post said. 

Forced to flee on foot, two of the would-be theives were soon apprehended. Police are confident the third will soon be arrested.

APPLICATION

Some might call it Karma, others might call it comeuppance, but whatever you call it you can be sure, one way or another, your sin will be found out, and thus you will sow what you reap, just like these foolish robbers.

"... behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23, ESV).

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV).

 

Don't Eat the Hot Wings

Decision Making Deceived/Deception Sin

Source: Personal Experience

Contributed By: Anthony Johnson | Date Posted: 2023-08-24

Scripture: Matthew 24:11 ; Matthew 7:13

Author: Anthony Johnson
0

ILLUSTRATION

At work one day we were having a potluck and one of guys had brought his special recipe hot wings.  His recipe was to blend the habanero chili peppers into a paste, mix it into a little Tabasco sauce, and bake it into the chicken wings. 

So he called one of his buddies over saying, “You’ve got to try my hot wings and tell me what you think!” 

His buddy grabbed a wing, stuck the whole thing in his mouth, and got about half way through pulling the bone out when the realization hit him that his mouth was on fire!  Finally, after lots of water and stuffing anything other than those chicken wings into his mouth to try and put out the fire, he dried the tears in his eyes and got himself composed. Then you know what he did?  He went looking for someone else to try those fiery chicken wings! 

After the first couple of guys were fooled into eating those wings, with the same predictable results, enough people had gathered and witnessed their demise that they weren’t going to be able to fool anyone else.  But then the strangest thing happened. 

Guys who had seen for themselves what the others had gone through decided to try the wings for themselves!  They were a little more cautious, not sticking the whole thing in their mouths, but kind of nibbling around the edges, yet the results were still pretty much the same.  And it went on until all the chicken wings were gone!

APPLICATION

You might think the moral of this story is “guys are stupid,” and given the facts, I would have a hard time arguing with you.  But as all this was playing out, I started thinking how the spreading heat from those wings was just like the way sin spreads.

The one who made the sauce, knowing how hot it was and what would probably happen, still called out to his friend, “Hey, come on and try my chicken wings!” – He is like the false prophets spoken of in Matthew 24:11 seeking to mislead. "And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray" (NIV). 

There are many people who will mislead you if you let them. 

The one who first tried the wings and burned his mouth still called out for others to come and try them too – He is like the one who has fallen, and rather than picking himself up and putting up warning signs to keep others from the same fate, he calls out to see if he can get others to join him in his misery.  As Proverbs 4:16 says, "For they [evil people] cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble" (ESV).

There are those who take pleasure in causing others to stumble.

And what about the ones who saw what was going on, but just had to try it for themselves?  They are the ones who blindly follow the masses, even when they know they are going to suffer.  And the result?  Matthew 7:13 says that … the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (NASB).

There are those who beckon to you to follow them on their road to destruction.

On that particular day I was one of the few who didn’t eat the chicken wings. But in my life, in the things that truly matter, that hasn’t always been the case.  What about you?  

When Cleaning Solutions Can Kill

Self-righteousness Sin Blood (of Jesus)

Source: "The Laundress recalling 8M detergent, cleaning products over bacteria exposure risk" by Aislinn Murphy for FoxBusiness News, posted 12/2/22, retrieved 2/5/23.

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-02-07

Scripture: Isaiah 64:6 ; 1 John 1:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
2

ILLUSTRATION

Cleaning products are supposed to make things clean and germ free, right? But did you know that cleaning products can actually be the vehicle for spreading soil and germs? Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? How can cleaning products make things soiled or contaminated?

Well, consider what recently happened with a high-end line of cleaning products, sold under the name The Laundress, which recently had to recall nearly 8 million units of products, including laundry detergents, stain removers, and surface cleaners, because they potentially were infected with dangerous bacteria with really long, hard to pronounce names — like Burkolderia Cepacia Complex, Klebsiella Aerogenes and Pseudomonas.

Safety regulators said consumers should "immediately stop" using all referenced products and immediately return them for refund.

Or considered another similar incident just months prior when the Clorox company — the King of Clean, right?! — had to recall a variety of Pine Sol cleaning products because of the risk of bacteria.

In both cases, the very products designed and marketed to clean our filth, and thus keep us healthier, were actually spreading germs that could kill us.

Can you say irony?

APPLICATION

Sadly, there is a spiritual parallel taking place in human hearts every minute of every day, as we make our feeble attempts to wash ourselves, purge ourselves of the stain of sin.

We attempt to scrub our soiled souls with the detergent made of our own human efforts, good works, and well intentions. We try to wash away past and present sin with the stain remover of pious acts or legalistic mandates. Yet for all our effort, we are simply injecting more sin, more soil, more contamination into the mix. And just like those contaminated cleaning products, our own self-righteous efforts can (and will!) kill us.

Scripture is clear — ALL our righteous deeds are like smelly, filthy rags in the nostrils of the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). The more we try to clean ourselves, the filthier we become.

There is only One cleaning solution fit to remove the stain of our soiled souls, and that is the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Himself.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. … If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7,9 ESV).

Covering Your Tracks

Sin Accountability Guilt

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-10-24

Scripture: Luke 8:17 ; Hebrews 4:13

Author: Illustration Exchange
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You Can't Reduce the Harm of Sin

Sin Consequences Dead (to sin)

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-06-02

Scripture: Romans 6:23 ; Romans 6:11

Author: Illustration Exchange
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The Scarlet Letter

Judging Criticism Sin

Contributed By: Charles Krieg | Date Posted: 2020-07-19

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18 ; Matthew 7:1

Author: Charles Krieg
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Spiritual Quarantine

Cleansing Sin Salvation

Contributed By: Shane Waldron | Date Posted: 2020-03-20

Scripture: Romans 10:9 ; Leviticus 13:

Author: Shane Waldron
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Getting Through The Security Gate

Salvation Confession Sin

Contributed By: Corey Sawyers | Date Posted: 2019-08-11

Scripture: Revelation 21:27 ; 1 John 1:9

Author: Corey Sawyers
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Troubled

Trouble Sin Comfort

Contributed By: Corey Sawyers | Date Posted: 2019-07-29

Scripture: Psalms 6:1 ; Psalms 6:10

Author: Corey Sawyers
5

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The Peril Of "Covering Up"

Sin Confession Spiritual Health

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2018-12-31

Scripture: Isaiah 29:15 ; Numbers 32:23

Author: Neal Pollard
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