A little over a year ago, a Colorado man sold baby alligators out of a trailer in southeast Missouri. Lots of people bought one or more of the cute little critters. They were only about the size of a pencil. Nothing that size could hurt anyone, right?

Now the reptiles have grown substantially, and they aren’t so cute anymore. Not only do they have the capability of inflicting injury, they have also developed a nasty disposition. Many of the owners now wish they had never purchased a baby alligator.

Sin has the same way of growing into something that was more than you anticipated. A little indulging in alcohol or other drugs can turn into a disastrous traffic accident. A little flirtation can lead to the break-up of a marriage. A little gambling can cause economic woes. A little neglect of worship can lead a person away from God.   

And so it goes. You can add to the list of little sins that can grow to the point where they threaten to destroy us.

James 1:15 says, “…Sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Let’s never forget that.