If we had X-Ray vision, what would sin look like?

By Elizabeth Prata

Back in 2014, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at airports used a machine you had to pass through which could see through your clothing, all the way to the skin. It was called Rapiscan and the x-ray machine was used to detect whether a passenger was smuggling bombing material, weapons, or chemicals for nefarious purposes. Unfortunately, the machine could see the naked body, which made many passengers uncomfortable. In addition, it soon came out that TSA personnel were unprofessionally gawking at good bodies and making fun of bad bodies.

Rapiscan machines were pulled in 2014. What started as maybe a good idea was turned into sin by twisted individuals seeing what they shouldn’t.

Back in 2001-2006, I was an investigative reporter. I uncovered financial malfeasance, voting irregularities, sexual immorality, and general mayhem that government leaders preferred to keep a lid on. Instead, the disinfectant of good journalism opened a can of worms, and it was my job to peek inside. Though the job was necessary and helpful, seeing the sins of others was depressing – because there was so much of it.

Seeing what we shouldn’t see is an unpleasant thing. Sin has come to life is all around us yet most of the time the layman are protected. We can avoid looking at it most of the time (and we are really good at avoiding looking at our own sin!)

But Lawyers, Police, Prison Officers, Parole Officers, Journalists, and others on a daily basis must directly confront the sins of others. It’s awful.

When satan was created, He was the most beautiful angel. Ezekiel 28:12 says

“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”

Inside or out, satan was not only beautiful, but he was the very seal of perfection. But it didn’t last. Though he was created perfect, one day, unrighteousness was found in him.

You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. (Ezekiel 28:15)

Sin is all around us because we live in a fallen world, and every human had a sin nature that makes it impossible for him or ner NOT to sin.

Sin is initially beautiful. It Looks good to us, as the fruit did to Eve. (Genesis 3:6). But the more a person becomes trapped in it, the less beautiful it is and the more they are eternally destroyed. Sin is, in fact, the ugliest item in the universe.

The woman may be beautiful, and the sin so enticing, Proverbs 5:3 says
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil.

But the end of it all is is hell.

in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps head straight for Sheol. (Proverbs 5:4-5)

But sin at first looks great, else no one would engage in it. Remember Superman’s X-Ray vision? Wikipedia defines X-ray vision as

“Although called X-ray vision, this power has little to do with the actual effect of X-rays. Instead, it is usually presented as the ability to selectively see through certain objects as though they are invisible, translucent or not present, in order to see objects or surfaces beyond or deep to the affected object or material.”

THIS is what sin looks like. Here is the Old Man. Once so beautiful and shining, it is a picture of what satan’s soul probably looks like. Eve thought the fruit looked good and a delight to the eyes, (Genesis 3:6) but shortly after tasting it, all it had brought was pain and bondage (Genesis 3:16). If we had X-ray vision and could see beyond the enticing surface, is this what we would see?

O, would that sin looked like this to our eyes, then we would not be so attracted to it! And sadly, horrifically, it is what us inside us. This ugliness is what Jesus sees when He looks at a non-believer. We cannot fathom how ugly sin is to Jesus when He looks at those who have not repented! Yet!, He still died for us.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Being that sin is so gross and deadly, it makes the triumph of Jesus all the more glorious.  Where satan is all-darkness that fools us into thinking it is light, where our own sin-nature convinces us that we are beautiful, Jesus never had one blot, one lie, one corrupt thought. Not once, not ever. He IS the Light!

God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

If we had X-ray vision looking at Jesus, our eyes would see only glory upon glory, shining like the sun. He is a prism of Light, reflecting throughout all the universe and into the eternity we will share with Him! When He looks upon a believer He sees that same righteousness-

For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Don’t be fooled by the initially enticing beauty of sin. It is gross, destructive, horrible. Put on your X-ray vision to see beyond its surface lie. The Bible is that X-ray vision. Use it to hone your worldview. Run from it toward Jesus who set us free from its bondage, and gave us the Spirit’s vision to see through its enticing spoils. Satan’s offerings are nothing. Jesus is our all in all.