The Bible has a lot to say about sin in general, but perhaps its clearest and most profound description of sin comes from an illustration drawn in Genesis 4v7:
“Sin is crouching at the door.
Its desire is contrary to you,
but you must rule over it.”
This verse conveys a myriad of things about the presence and nature of sin; but its imagery of “crouching” for sin is particularly illuminating. For instance:
- By crouching, sin appears much smaller than we might think it is—as crouching makes its stature look deceptively small.
- By crouching, sin appears much weaker than we might think it is—yet, crouching is a strategic way of being poised and spring-loaded, ready to pounce and overtake.[1]
- And finally, by crouching, sin appears less threatening than we might think it is—as crouching is another strategic way to being more easily overlooked.
By crouching, sin initially appears smaller, weaker, and less threatening—and that’s its strategy. Crouching is deceptive in appearance, strong in position, and ready for attack. And simply by virtue of its nature, it is therefore much, much closer than we think it is, too. In fact, it’s at our door: the primary entryway of the most intimate and valuable parts of our lives.
How often do we need to be reminded that sin, indeed, is crouching?
This verse about the nature of sin makes me think of the menacing character, Golem, from The Lord of the Rings. “My precious… we wants it…”
Golem is an ancient character with a small stature: he’s hunched-over, walking on all-fours; he’s sickly-looking, greasy, grey-skinned, and has a crazed aura about him. He appears, in a sense, meek, weak, and non-threatening; but his small, ‘crouching’ stature allows him to hide his ‘larger-than-life’ deviousness and monstrous ill-will.
His small, physical ‘crouching’ stature makes it appear as if he’s a humble servant and devoted friend. But in reality, his ‘crouching’ stature is the furthest thing from a posture of humility and service; in fact, it is the full height and vigor of evil, deceptively compressed and maliciously spring-loaded—poised only to “steal, kill, and destroy” (Jn. 10:10).
Golem is eerily similar to how the devil is described in Scripture, as one who “masquerades himself as an angel of light” but “is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking…to devour” (2 Cor. 11:12, 1 Pe. 5:8). And in line with our verse, “Sin’s desire is contrary to you…” Golem’s desire also was always-and-only contrary to Frodo and Sam’s (who represent Christ-followers). Golem, however, achieved access into their lives and mission precisely because he convinced them that his desire was not contrary to theirs, but congruent and compatible with theirs. And it was to their detriment, all the way to their destination.
Because of Golem, Frodo and Sam lost a lot of sleep, a good bit of food, a significant amount of inner peace, a ring finger, and almost one another. Soberingly, it very nearly cost them their life’s calling, too.
Golem personifies the presence and nature of sin in our lives. Sin appears small and weak—and that is its first entry point into our lives. It acts like our true friend, ready to feed us and serve us; but its intent is to starve us and devour us. It appears to lead us and help us, but its intent is to distract us and detain us.
As followers of Jesus, sin is always-and-only contrary to what we truly desire and where we are truly heading. Sin is crouching at our doors…
…appearing smaller, looking weaker, being more easily overlooked, but all the while being much, much closer than we might otherwise think.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us today…
9 …resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. (1 Peter 5)
[1] Kyle Mercer, Lust + Marriage + Divorce + Oaths – The Sermon on the Mount. Sermon given at Two Cities Church in Winston-Salem, NC on January 31, 2021.
