The Glittery Lure of Sin

Silvery, coppery scales glittered. “Oh, they’re gorgeous,” I said.

“Those are piranha,” Zach said.

I stepped back from the plexiglass. Watchful fisheyes bulged; the pouty lips were ugly. Nearby, on a television screen, footage rolled of a dead, gray fish dangling among the piranha. Within seconds, the piranha reduced the dead, gray bait to fishbones.

Everything about the gorgeous flesh-eaters now repulsed me. Still, the glittery scales mesmerized. Danger intrigued. Then it hit me: sin is like that. Sin lures the passerby with a colorful display. It mercilessly devours to satisfy some sick hunger. It is repulsive and it is ugly.

And it is not enough to step back, intrigued. It is not enough to gawk or even to resolve to never be the dead, gray dangling bait. Dangerous waters are best left unstirred. And when a school of piranha catch you off guard, it is best to move along and not gaze upon the glittery lure of sin.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

Photo: Georgia Aquarium piranha