“Oh well, at least it's not going to be a downpour!”
This might very well be the response of an optimist who just received a weather forecast calling for drizzle.
But on the other hand, the same forecast will not make the pessimist a happy camper, taking the position that being out in drizzle can get one just as wet as being out in heavier rain.
There is some science that would support the pessimist's position.
One study in 2009 challenged the assumption that bigger and heavier rain drops fall faster from the sky than do the smaller and lighter drops associated with drizzle. The scientists conducting this study claim small drops fall faster, suggesting that one could get just as wet in drizzle as in heavier rain.
Another study suggests that even if one ran at top speed in a down pour, he/she would only reduce the degree of wetness by 10%. This effort would hardly seem worth the effort, adding to the scenario the risk of injury due to slippery surfaces and reduced visibility.
Why are some of us optimistic, looking at a cup as being half full, whereas others of us are pessimistic, look at the same cup and see it as half empty?
I believe that we see what we want to see.
Be it due to rain or drizzle, enough exposure to either one will end with the same result. You are going to get wet.
Failing to consider the inevitable end result is what gets us all wet in the spiritual realm.
Drizzle, or what we would consider minor sin, doesn’t appear to be as threatening or as consequential as a heavy downpour, or what we would consider a major sin. Just a little, we have heard, isn't going to hurt anyone.
*Scripture (1) teach that the one who has broken any one of God's laws stands as guilty as the one who has broken them all! This places all of us in the same stinking, sinking boat. There is no such thing as first class, second class, or third class passengers aboard this boat.
We often rationalize that we can handle or manage the drizzle, that being what human viewpoint considers to be minor sin.
If the truth be known, we do so not wanting to miss out on the momentary or seasonal *pleasure (2) that some forms of sin have to offer.
How serious is a little sin?
Serious enough that it took the crucified Son of God to atone for it.
Furthermore, for a variety of reasons, there will be those who will choose to venture out in downpours, engaging in what human viewpoint considers to be major sins, living for the moment, with no serious regard, if any, for the consequences.
Why so?
Because we are self-centered creatures that came into this world with a *fallen nature (3) that is inherently *hostile (4) towards God and the things of God.
To the extent that circumstances and opportunity allow, we by nature, will do what pleases ourselves, often times with wilfull disregard for God, its impact on other people, or the personal consequences likely to follow.
Human rationalization and self-justification may help us get through the day and perhaps sleep better at night, disregarding the multiple warning of forthcoming days of reckoning.
These days of reckoning may take place here on *Earth (5), in the *Court of Heaven (6), or both.
Rather it is the result of drizzle or a downpour, just how often the born again believer got wet during his/her post (after) salvation spiritual life here on Earth will impact not *where (7), but *how (8) he/ will experience Heaven.
Note that advancing disciples do not serve God in order to be rewarded or privileged.
As for the unbelievers, their day of reckoning will result in them being *thrown into the lake of fire (9). Not for getting wet, but after having gotten wet, choosing to reject God's one and only *means (10) to have received a new set of dry clothes.
In summary, those who believe that just a little drizzle isn't going to matter have been greatly deceived.
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(*1) James 2: 10 (*2) Heb. 11: 25 (*3) Romans 7: 23 (*4) Romans 8: 7 (*5) Hebrews 12: 5/Acts 5 (*6) 2 Cor. 5: 10/Rev. 20: 13, 15 (*7) 2Cor. 5: 8/Romans 8: 1) (*8) 1Cor. 3: 12-15/Rev. 2/Rev.3 (*9) Rev. 20: 13, 15 (*10) John 14: 6