In the world that we live in today, the word sin has almost dropped from the English language. It seems as though there are no such things that classify as sin today. The drunkard is now a victim of a disease. The promiscuous woman is a now "liberated woman," complete with abortion and/or pills to release her from responsibility. The world says that the murderer had a terrible childhood and should not be held completely accountable for his actions. How is it possible that anyone is this world could believe such things? It is because they have forgotten the Lord and His word. Today, many have professed themselves to be "wise" and yet have they have become "fools." They indeed "worship and serve the creature more than the creator." (Romans 1:20-25). Sin is not a dead entity. It is not the tool of preachers to scare people, but it is a reality and all men suffer from it. We die because of sin. We feel pain because of sin (Genesis 3:9-21). Sin is still very much in this world.

What is sin?

What is sin? The word comes from archery and literally means "to miss the mark." Picture a bull’s eye. The spot right in the center is the "mark" or bull’s eye. Now picture an archer pulling back his bow while aiming at the "mark." If his arrow fell short, went too far, fell to the side, or hit the target but not in the bull’s eye, then he sinned or missed the mark. In view of God’s will, we know that we have a mark to hit. The Apostle John plainly tells us that the "mark" is God’s law.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4
 
If we picture the bull’s eye as God’s word and our deeds as the archer’s arrows, we begin to understand that when we sin, we miss God’s word, that is, we have "missed the mark." We will have failed to do what He intended for us to do. He has given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3) and furnished us "unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Let us strive to do all that He has commanded.