If you walk through shopping malls or other public places, you will see people wearing T-shirts that have many different messages printed on them. We have seen shirts with the name of a favorite sports team or some superstar. Very likely some of you own T-shirts which have the name of your school or your town on them. Some shirts have the name of a club or a favorite music group. And some even have a famous person’s picture on them. We have seen shirts advertising many products, brands of clothing, soft drinks, and even products harmful to our health and happiness.
It is sad, but we have also seen shirts with bad language on them. Some have words that should never be repeated, let alone worn on a shirt for everyone to read. We saw two shirts like these recently. We were not at a mall or other public place; we were at our own home having a garage and yard sale. Jennifer, our eight-year-old granddaughter, was also at our garage sale and had a table of toys and cookies for sale. We were concerned about such bad language being where she could see it. We wanted to ask the people with the bad words on their shirts to leave, but we did not want to call attention to the words in front of Jennifer.
We are glad all “messages” seen on T-shirts are not bad. Some are not messages Christians who want to please the Lord Jesus would like to “send” to those reading their shirts. Many of you boys and girls have seen these shirts and talked about them. Some are funny messages and some are serious messages. But every shirt with writing tells people something about the person wearing it. Are you really sure you want others to think of you based on what your T-shirt says?
As we walked through the mall the other day, we saw a T-shirt message that puzzled us. We do not know whether the person was trying to be serious or funny. To us the message was a very serious one. It said, “Naughty by Nature.” Boys and girls, the thought of a naughty or sinful nature is very serious. We decided the young woman wearing that shirt was probably not serious, but thought such a message might be funny. The Bible, the Word of God, tells us, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). This means all of us not only are naughty by nature, but we have also been naughty by choice. We have let our sinful nature come out in bad behavior.
There is another verse in the Bible that is a warning for anyone who wears a shirt “advertising” his or her naughty nature. “Fools make a mock at sin.” Proverbs 14:99Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor. (Proverbs 14:9). Instead of being serious about sin, some people make jokes about it. It is very foolish to “be funny” about sin, which will send a person to hell for eternity. Satan, our enemy, makes sin look very inviting. Those trying to sell things that go along with a life of sin and self-pleasure show beautiful people “having fun” while using their product. But the Bible says, “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:1515Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15). Jesus said that if you “die in your sins: [where] I go, [you] cannot come.” John 8:2121Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. (John 8:21). His love for you and me caused Him to die on the cross, and now He can say of those who receive Him, “That where I am, there [you] may be also.” John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3).
We sincerely hope the young person wearing the T-shirt that said “Naughty by Nature” was not being foolish and making fun of sin. The matter of our sinful nature and bad conduct should not be taken lightly, nor should the messages we send to others with words printed on our T-shirts. We would like very much for each one of you to take seriously your own sinful nature and conduct. Come to the Lord Jesus today. He has died for sinners and He says, “Come unto Me... and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). He has also said, “All that... come to Me... I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37). Won’t you come to Him and have all your sins washed away? Your “naughty nature” is condemned through His death, but when you receive Him as your Saviour, all your sins are washed away in His precious blood. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).
ML-11/15/1992