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Imagine being trapped in a collapsed mine, dark, airless, and alone. The longer you remain, the harder it is to breathe. At first, you may try to convince yourself you are safe enough. The ground seems stable, and perhaps you believe you can dig your own way out. But slowly, hour by hour, the oxygen thins. Every breath becomes more difficult until hope itself begins to suffocate. Spiritually speaking, sometimes the walls of sin can cave in on us? Find out what to do if this happens to you.
The collapsed mine image is not far from the spiritual danger Scripture warns us about. For centuries, theologians have used the Latin phrase incurvatus in se, which means “curved in on oneself,” to describe the essence of sin. At its root, sin is not just doing bad things, it is turning inward, making life about ourselves instead of about God and others. When that happens, we build walls around our hearts, and those walls can eventually collapse in upon us.
The Bible shows this pattern again and again. Adam and Eve grasped for the fruit because they wanted what they wanted, not what God willed. Cain turned inward in jealousy and killed his brother. Israel trusted in idols when they feared God was not enough. Sin always bends us inward, until our vision narrows and the only person we see is ourselves. And just like a miner sealed off from fresh air, the longer we live that way, the less of God’s life we can breathe. Prayer feels shallow, Scripture seems lifeless, and even our worship feels hollow.
At first, the cave of self-will can even feel comfortable. It gives us the illusion of control. We choose the pleasures we want, we guard the pride we protect, and we pursue the goals we set. But like a collapsed tunnel, it closes in on us slowly. Anger hardens into bitterness. Desires grow into addictions. Pride blinds us to truth. Walls that once promised safety now keep us from light and air.
But here is the good news: God does not leave us buried in the rubble of our sin. Over and over, the Bible tells us that God “bends down to hear our cry.” In Luke 19:10, Jesus told us that He came, “to seek and to save the lost”. The Lord does not shout at us to dig ourselves out; He comes into the cave to rescue us.
The resurrection is the ultimate sign of this hope. On Easter morning, Jesus emerged from a tomb that could not hold Him. The stone was rolled away by the power of God. And the same Lord who broke free from His grave can break through the collapsed walls of ours. He is able to roll away the stones that seal us in, to breathe His Spirit into us again, and to lead us out into the light of freedom.
Of course, we all know the reality of stumbling back into sin. Even after experiencing rescue, we sometimes wander into new caves of selfishness or temptation. But the call of Christ is not to stay there. Every time we turn back to Him, through prayer, repentance, honest sharing with others, and choosing obedience, He meets us again. He never tires of pulling us out. He never wearies of breathing life back into lungs that have grown faint.
The danger of incurvatus in se is real. We all face it. But so is the hope of Jesus Christ. He calls us out of caves of fear, addiction, anger, pride, and shame. He calls us into the wide and spacious life He offers, filled with His Spirit, where we can finally breathe freely again.
So, let us ask ourselves: What sins are walling us in right now? Whatever they may be, we do not need to dig our way out alone. The same Jesus who moved the stone that sealed His tomb will move the stones that entomb us. And in Him, we will find freedom, light, and life once more.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways have you found yourself “caving in” around your own wants instead of opening outward toward God and others?
- How you experienced the suffocating effect of sin—where prayer, Scripture, and worship feel lifeless?
- Have you seen God break through rubble in your past, bringing you back into His light?
- What sins are walling you in today?
- Are you ready to trust Jesus and allow Him to roll away those stones?
If you feel trapped by sin, I encourage you to reach out today to God and to a trusted friend. It is never too late.
Heavenly Father, sin has an insidious way of creating small. often unnoticeable, cracks and fissures, in the walls of my life until one day everything comes crumbling down around me. I know in my heart that Jesus stands ready to dig me out if I just call out to Him. Help me, guide me, and lead safety out from the cave of sin. Amen!
AMDG
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Please take a moment to share your thoughts about today’s message below.
- Incurvatus In Se - November 16, 2025
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- A Love Drama - November 2, 2025
