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WHEN SIN STOPS HURTING “…having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” — 1 Timothy 4:2 KJV We often think of a seared conscience as the result of some terrible, shocking sin. But the danger is not limited to what we call the “big sins.” ANY SIN YOU PROTECT CAN BEGIN TO HARDEN YOU. It might be lying. Bitterness. Lust. Pride. Gossip. Unforgiveness. Cheating. Covetousness. A secret habit. A dishonest relationship. Something you know is wrong—but refuse to surrender.At first, it bothers you.Then you excuse it. “It isn't that bad.” “Everybody does it.” “Nobody knows.” “I have my reasons.”Then you repeat it. And every time you protect that sin instead of dealing with it, you become a little more comfortable with what once troubled you. Scripture warns: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” — Hebrews 3:13 KJV Notice what hardens us: “the deceitfulness of sin.” Sin doesn't normally announce, “I'm going to destroy your sensitivity to what is right.”It simply asks you to protect it one more time. One more excuse. One more cover-up. One more compromise. One more refusal to admit you are wrong.Until eventually... WHAT ONCE BOTHERED YOU DOESN'T BOTHER YOU ANYMORE. That is not spiritual growth. That is spiritual danger. A tender conscience says, “I was wrong.” A hardening conscience says, “Let me explain why I wasn't wrong.” And when a person continually protects his sin, he may eventually reach the place where he doesn't merely practice it—he defends it. Don't protect the very thing that is destroying your sensitivity to God. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” — Proverbs 28:13 KJV The answer isn't to become better at living with your sin. The answer is to confess it and forsake it. ANY SIN YOU CONTINUALLY PROTECT CAN BECOME A SIN YOU EVENTUALLY NO LONGER FEEL. Don't wait until sin stops hurting. Deal with it while your conscience is still telling you that something is wrong.