She/He Doesn’t Get It!

There’s nothing worse than a moral blind spot.  Thinking you are innocent, when you are guilty, is damning.  People all around us have this problem and we wonder why they are so blind to something everyone else sees?  Problem is, we are just as blind… If not more so!

Matthew 6:23  If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Blind spots are present when:

1.  We are defensive when someone disagrees or challenges us,

2.  We accuse others of being out to get us,

3.  We’re convinced we’re always right,

4.  We are critical of others often,

5.  People try to help us see our blind spots and we write them off,

6.  We enjoy pointing out other people’s blind spots!

7.  We don’t want to look for our blind spots.

It takes a devistating shot to the heart before anyone sees their blind spot. I know because that’s what it took for me to see my own blind spots.  And I’m pretty sure I STILL don’t know where all my blind spots are (Ouch).

When I Blew It!

I’m patient as long as what I want is happening.  But let my schedule or plan get discombobulated and I can become a bear… a poppa bear… a hungry poppa bear woken up from a nap.

Pam, Amy, Britton, and I went to Nashville last week to see Trey play basketball.  I met P, A, & B (Shorthand for family names) in Athens.  They were ahead of schedule!  We had plenty of time to get to the gym for warm-ups before the game.  So I settled back for a leisurely ride.  THEN four things happened and I went from a smoldering ember to a raging fire (I relate this to my embarrassment).

ASIDE: I relate this to my embarrassment for a few reasons.  1) To remind us all that we have to constantly be on our guard.   2) It doesn’t take much for us to stumble.  3) None of us are beyond simple things causing us to fail.  4) Our failures are against God {Worst of all}.  5) Our failures wound others (That hurts a lot).

Back to the five things.   Amy’s order wasn’t in the sack I got from Chic-Filet (I got jipped!).  Second… Now we’d have to stop… AGAIN.  Third… the exit we took required a several mile drive into a podunk town for food.  Fourth… Outside Brentwood, TN traffic came to a standstill.  Fifth… I started looking at my watch (Big mistake).

To top it all off P, A, & B were cutting up, laughing, and having a good ole time (While I steamed).  With each minute I got more and more frustrated.  We’d miss warm ups.  Then… we’d miss tip-off.  Then… we’d miss who knows how much of the game.  Then… we’ll might miss the whole game!  That’s when it happened.  That’s when I blew it.

One of my family asked me a simple, innocuous question.  I answered in a low grumble.  In an attempt to lighten my mood their reply was funny.  And that’s when I made a comment under my breath.  Note to self: When you can’t hear well… what you think is a whisper is to other people normal conversation.  They heard what I said and it shut them down.  The hilarity was gone.  The kidding was over.  The laughter was silenced.  BECAUSE OF ME.

Immediately I knew: 1) I’d failed God miserably.  2) I had wounded three people I love dearly.  3) Guilt flooded my spirit.  4) Satan and his demons were laughing at me.  I felt a little of the sting Peter must have felt after denying Christ (just a little).

I did what I could to make things right (Repented to all three & a plus factor)… but damage was done.  And it grieved me deeply.  I have been having to do battle from that moment to now (Friday morning).  Satan keeps reminding me of my failure… whispering in my ear how stupid I am… how unworthy I am… and a host of other things.  I keep throwing Romans 8:1 at him.

Lesson/request: Learn from this little story.  Stay on your guard.  If you fail… repent and do all you can to make it right.  And “don’t let a root of bitterness spring up and defile many.”

Sin Is Fun

One of the reasons people commit sin (Other than their nature) is that sin is fun… enjoyable… provides a rush of adrenalin… for a while (Heb 11:24-25).  The only problem is that there is always a price to pay.  Sin always has consequences.  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.  Whatever a man sows that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Application: Those who live a life of rebellion… many times beginning in their teen years… end up carrying emotional, psychological, and spiritual baggage for the rest of their life.  I knew a man who performed illegal abortions in the early 1970s and spent the next 3.5 decades angry and bitter as a result.  I’ve talked with men who wish they could go back and do things differently as a husband and father because now they see the havoc they sowed in loved ones lives who were wounded by them.  I’ve watched people beat themselves up emotionally for years because of willful disobedience related to honesty, money, and how they’ve treated others.

Sin has consequences.  Bitterness… guilt… anger… resentment… and emotions like them are the result of ignoring God’s commands.  God’s commands are give to protect us!  They are the fence that keeps out the enemy.  Ignoring God’s commands will result in pain and death of emotions, relationships, joy, and life.  God’s protection for us to avoid destruction are found in His Word.

God has a good reason for staying a virgin until marriage.  He has a good reason to not be addicted to alcohol.  He has a good reason for keeping the marriage bed pure.  He has a good reason for not stealing or lying.  ALL His commands are for His glory and our good!  If we ignore God, there is a price to pay.  Forgiveness does not negate consequences.

Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Are Some Sins Worse Than Others?

This is a reflective post for those who don’t mind being asked to think a little.  It is a follow up to a post from a couple of weeks ago.  Consider that the following is written in James 2:1, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”  Even so…

Ever noticed that different acts of sin are many times thought of and/or treated different?  Sadly, I have personal knowledge of the following…

Churches that will not ordain a man as a deacon if he has been divorced, but they WILL ordain a man who’s wife is a gossip.  Second, a church leader was recently arrested for DUI, yet was allowed to continue serving as a leader in the church without any discipline what so ever from the congregation (Even though his arrest was detrimental to the reputation of the congregation and the faith).  Third, a man was re-elected as a deacon and put in places of leadership even though he was convicted of a felony (A pardon was granted, but the reputation of the church was tarnished significantly in the community), but a man who was suspected of questionable behavior (Also a deacon and teacher) was asked to leave the same church.

Continuing with my question, which is worse?  Adultery or greed…  Homosexuality or taking revenge…  Fornication or homosexuality or lust…  Injustice or hatred…  Lying or stealing…  Drunkenness or idolatry…  Pride or coarse humor…  Gossiping or cheating…  Hypocrisy or bitterness… Favoritism OR…?

Before I suggest a few Scriptures to consider… I have some thoughts.  First… in God’s sight all sin is equal in that it is a transgression of His law.  In that context, all sin will be punished by Him equally.  Second… while all sin is equal as a transgression, not all sin has the same consequences in this life.  Example: Both murder & speeding are breaking the law.  However, for murder the penalty is prison or death… for speeding it is a ticket.  Same in the strictest sense, different in punishment.  I guess at this point I have to admit working through a few issues… with the previous passage from James ringing in my ears.

Now for a few Scriptures for reflection…

James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 4:22 Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29  Let NO corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.

Final thought… I’m still ruminating on all this and don’t have answers to my questions yet.  Any help out there??

That’s A Sin!

In Hebrews 2:1 it is written… “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it…”

That nails me every time I read it because it is so easy to slowly drift from a close walk with God.  As one has said, “If you’ve ever been closer to God than you are now, you are backslidden.”

The staff of HBC are reading some important Christian books.  God willing, at the end of February, we will discuss Jerry Bridges’ book… “The Pursuit Of Holiness.”  In chapter 12 he addresses holiness in Spirit, then references Ephesians 5:3-7. 

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not associate with them…

Let’s take a test… (Pull your toes back, mine are already black and blue!).  Does this passage address:

What we watch on TV?  Do we subject ourselves to immorality, coarse language, and/or improper conduct in watching our favorites?  And worse… do we rationalize doing it?

The movies we watch or purchase on DVD/Blu-ray?  Again… Do we subject ourselves to immorality, coarse language, and/or improper conduct in watching our favorites?  And worse… do we rationalize doing it?

The sites we visit on the internet?  Good standard here… would you suggest the sites you visit to your pastor… mom… or grandmother?

The jokes we tell?  Good standard here… would you tell them in church before or after worship?

And then what about the people we associate with… do they engage around us in those things?  Hmmm…

“Aw come on preacher… you’re going too far!”  If you think that, go back and read again what Paul wrote.  Maybe we all should make some decisions about what is proper and improper as believers in Christ.

The “boom” you heard might have been hammer upside a head somewhere…

But I Didn’t Mean To Sin!

It is possible to commit a sin against God unintentionally.  Even when this happens, we are still responsible for our unintentional conduct.  Consider what is found in Leviticus 4 and 5…

Lev 4:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them…

Lev 4:13 If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,  14  when the sin which they have committed becomes known…

Lev 4:22 When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the Lord his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 23 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him…

Lev 4:27 If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28  or the sin which he has committed is made known to him…

Lev 5:15 If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation…

Lev 5:17 If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.

It is possible for anyone (Priest, Leader, Congregation {group}, the average person) to sin and not mean to do it.  The responsibility is heightened when they “realize” they have sinned.  At that point… in each passage… the guilty party is to offer a sacrifice to God for their sin.

The one that made the largest impression on me was Lev 4:27-28… “Or the sin which he has committed IS MADE KNOWN TO HIM.”  It is important for the community of faith to help one another combat and overcome sin.  Our sin nature is so deceitful that we do and say things that are transgressions of God’s Law without knowing it!  We (I!) need people to help me realize when I have sinned, so that I can repent and confess it so as to walk more closely with God.  Plus there might be the need to reconcile with the one I sinned against!

So what do we do?  Consider the following…

Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Ps 26:2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

Pr 17:3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Job 13:23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?  Make me know my transgression and my sin.

Job 34:32 Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’

Ps 19:12 Who can discern his errors?  Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!

Pr 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Lam 3:40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!  (Those 5 words are the key)

Sin Goes VIRAL!

The term “going viral” means that something spreads quickly.  This is true of sin’s effects.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to sin and others not be effected.  Every time one person commits a sin, others are ALWAYS effected.  Consider a few examples…

Adam and Eve. Because these two people at the fruit of the tree God forbade them from eating, they died and the effects of their sin has infected every person who has ever lived… without exception.

Achan. Because this one man took a few trinkets he was forbidden to take, the Israelites lost a battle… 36 men died (Which means 36 widows and their children left without a dad)… and then Achan’s family was executed for their sin.

David. Consider two from his life. First: Because David committed adultery with Bathsheba… A) He’d be at war till he died, B) A member of his family would rise against him, C) His wives would be raped in public, D) His child with Bathsheba would die.  Second: Because David disobeyed God with a census of fighting men… 70,000 men died at the hand of an angel.

Make no mistake about it.  No person can sin and it NOT effect others.  A husband’s sin will effect his wife, children, friends, and co-workers.  Every time we sin, the effects have a ripple effect to all those who know and interact with us… as was illustrated above.

But God Is Merciful! Not only is sin viral… but so is God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Consider these passages of Scripture:

Unbelieving spouse because of the believing spouse.  I see this as God granting special mercy to the unbeliever because of the presence of the believer.  The term “holy” means “set apart” and does NOT in this context have to do with salvation, but that God treats the unbeliever in a special way because of the believer.

Because of Jesus, God grace is granted to all who believe!  In the same way that sin was viral because of Adam, so too salvation is viral because of Jesus.

As sin effects many when it is committed, so too does righteousness effect many when it is displayed in the world.  When a believer lets their light shine, God is glorified.  When a Christian lives for Jesus at work, there is a positive ripple effect.  When God’s Word is spoken, it does not return empty.

Everything we do… good or evil… has consequences and effects others.  The question is… What will be the ripple effect of our conduct and words today?

Making Worship Meaningful

If we want our worship to be meaningful… If we want to increase in our love for God… then we must understand the depth to which God has forgiven us.  If we don’t think we’re really all that bad… the degree of our thankfulness and love for God will be small.  However, as we realize what we deserve for our sin AND that Jesus was punished in our place, the response will be much more +Consider what is written in Luke 7:41 and following (Jesus is speaking)…

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  42  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

I’m convinced that the more aware we are of our own sin for which Jesus was punished… the more we will be genuinely thankful to God for our forgiveness.  Along with that, our love for God will also increase.  And the result of those two things will be an increase of adoration, worship, and praise of God!

Think. Do you realize how much you’ve been forgiven?  Have you been forgiven?  Know that God hates sin… HATES IT. Because of sin… God’s wrath, anger, and indignation is building to an infinite measure.  Then one day all His fury against sin and His anger toward those who rejected salvation in Jesus alone will be poured out for eternity.  They will be punished forever.  Their torments will intensify without relief.  They will burn… scream in pain… with their worst nightmares all coming true.  They will remember ever opportunity they had to believe in Jesus that they rejected and mourn over their foolishness.  And it will get worse and worse as each second of eternity passes by.  And they will never get any relief… forever and ever and ever and ever.

God doesn’t punish sin… He punishes the sinner who committed the sin.  Think on that.   If God only hates the sin and not the sinner… then why doesn’t He just punish the sin in hell and not the sinner himself?  Hmm… I’m working on that one…

Are you saved?  Do you know Jesus?  If you do… know this… Jesus went through what is described above IN YOUR PLACE!  So that you won’t be subjected to God’s eternal wrath!  So you are free… forgiven… redeemed… justified.  (Pause)  Next time you go to church… think about how great your sin is and that you have been forgiven and WORSHIP THE GOD who provided you eternal life.

What’s That Smell?

Have you ever smelled milk gone bad… and kept smelling it for a while afterward?  Have you been eating and got ketchup on your shirt… and the stain will just not go away?  If you’ve had either experience, consider this…

Sin leaves a residue with everything it comes in contact with.  It lingers… sometimes for the rest of our life.

A careless word spoken at the wrong time leaves a stain… a bad smell.  A harsh look leaves a stain… a bad smell.  Not forgiving another leaves a stain… a bad smell.  Treating another person in a mean manner leaves a stain… a bad smell.  There are many ways to leave a stain in other people’s life.  There are many ways we can leave people with a bad smell once we leave them.

Facebook, Forwards, Twitter, And Time

Okay… mass confession time: How many have wasted time that could have been better spent some other way? How many have wasted hour upon hour staring at a computer screen forwarding emails 100 other people forwarded before you got it?  How many have played some kind of game or read drivel passed off as news for longer than you should have?  I see one hand… two… three more… yes I see you over there… looks like everyone’s hand is up… including mine (To my shame).

Up for another question?  Would you not agree that Facebook, Myspace, texting (The average teenager sends and receives 2,272 text messages a month!), Twitter, and other things like that are infringing upon a wise use of the time God gives everyone each day?

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Confession: Last night I found myself on Facebook playing a stupid game.  Oh… did I tell you what time it was?  1:30 AM.  Never mind that I couldn’t sleep due to a minor G.I. problem, the point is I was WASTING my time!

John Piper in his book “Don’t Waste Your Life” muses about what it might be like for a person to stand before God on judgment day and say… “Lord… look at all these beautiful sea shells I collected after I retired!” Put that thought in another context… “Lord… did you see that I had the coolest Myspace page?!  Did you see that I got to level 2,603 in Mafia Wars?  Did hear me quote line after line after line from all the black and white Andy Griffith episodes?!”

I’m not saying that recreation is to be avoided… but it is possible for recreation (Myspace, Twitter, Games, Facebook, Blogging?) to become an idol.  It is possible to make rest and relaxation an idol.  The Bible calls that being lazy.

That is why Paul wrote, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise…” and “Conduct yourselves wisely.”

Check Facebook… just don’t spend 3 hours doing it.  Play a computer game to relax… just don’t do it for hour upon hour (Especially if you are at work!).  Collect a few seashells, but don’t make that your reason for existing.

Satan has got American Christians hoodwinked.  Instead of sending armed thugs to break up our worship services, he distracts us by using innocuous electronic gadgets and games so that time better spent otherwise is lost forever.

Now with every head bowed and every eye closed…

God Can Prevent Our Sin…

  Jesus taught us to pray… “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…”

  Can/Does God deliver us from evil?  Read Genesis 20:1-6 carefully, especially verse 6, then think with me.

    From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.”

Like me, you may need to read verse 6 again… slowly.  Think… God prevented the king from sinning!  God kept the king from doing what he otherwise would have done had God not stopped him!  Wow…

Put those thoughts in a New Testament context from Jude 24-25…

   Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Because these kinds of things are kept in the secret knowledge and wisdom of God, none of us knows how many times God protected us from our own stupidity… foolilshness… and ignorance.  We don’t know the number of times that God intervened in our lives to prevent us from doing what we otherwise would have done… namely to sin against Him.  I am thankful God has the power to do that!  I am glad He prevents us from sinning at times!

How awesome is that?!  How awesome is God?!!

I don’t know what else to do with these thoughts but to praise… honor… and glorify such a wonderful, loving, merciful, and compassionate God.  Praise be to God for who He is!

Jesus taught us to pray a certain way, but how many times have we really contemplated that God actually answers that prayer?  We may find the answer to that question in eternity…

“I’d Never Do That!” Oh Really?!

  What are you capable of doing… given the right pressure, right situation, and right opportunity?  Let me suggest none of us knows what we could do given the previous conditions.  And if we don’t think we are capable of evil we are deceiving ourselves (1 Cor 10:12).  Consider the case of Adolph Eichmann and Yehiel Dinur.

  Adolph Eichmann (Left) came from a middle class protestant family in Germany.  He rose through the ranks of the Nazi party and was viewed as the chief leader of “The Final Solution,” the murder of 6 million Jews in concentration camps.  After the war he escaped to Argentina until May of 1960 when he was arrested and brought back to Israel to stand trial.  Everyone who saw him was amazed at his ordinary appearance.  They expected him to look more sinister and imposing… but he looked… normal. 

  Years later Mike Wallace did a documentary about Eichmann and asked this question, “How is it possible for a man to act as Eichmann acted?  Was he a monster?  A madman?  Or was he perhaps something even more terrifying: was he normal?”

  During the program, a clip from Eichmann’s 1961 trial showed Yehiel Dinur (A concentration camp survivor) enter the courtroom to take the witness stand.  As he paused before Eichmann, he fainted.  Mike Wallace asked Dinur if he was overcome by fear… hatred… or the memories of what he endured.  Mr. Dinur’s response is chilling…

  “No,” he responded… explaining that he realized Eichmann was not the godlike army officer who sent millions to their deaths.  Much worse, he was an ordinary man.  “I was afraid about myself.  I saw that I am capable to do this.  I am… exactly like he.”  Dinur concluded by saying, “Eichmann is in all of us…”

 

  Paul wrote in Romans 7:15, 18-19 the following, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (ESV)  We all can identify with Paul’s words.

  How could a young boy who grew up in a protestant home… who heard The Word preached… and worshipped in God’s house be the architect of exterminating millions of people?  Reflect on that!  A better question might be… What are we capable of doing?

  Let me suggest something to consider… Seeds become roots become shoots become trees become forests.  The point is that if we are not careful to nip sin in the bud the second it rears it’s head in our life, we are but a few steps from the most horrible of actions.  Consider what is written in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Let him who stands take heed lest he fall.”  As much as I hate to consider it, I could do the most horrible things imaginable.

  What is it that prevents us becoming Adolph Eichmann-like?  Repentance.  The second we have an evil thought toward someone… the moment we wish harm or evil upon them… the instant we sense anger or bitterness in our soul we need to confess it to God in repentance.  Otherwise those seeds could grow and one day… week… month… or even years later produce fruit that destroys us and/or many others.

  Suggestion!  Examine yourself.  Ask God to reveal any anger, hostility, resentment, and/or bitterness in your life.  And then confess it to God.  Then make a conscious choice to live out Philippians 4:8-9 (Click to read the text).

Forgiveness Doesn’t Prevent The Consequences Of Sin

For some reason we think that to be forgiven means consequences are removed.  But such is not the case.  Forgiveness does NOT mean that the consequences of sin are not carried out.  The fact that we believe they should be avoided shows how little we understand of the seriousness of sin.  Most people want to be forgiven… and then left alone and not face up to the results of what they have done.

  Thus the purpose of this post… to take a look into Scripture regarding sin, consequences, and restoration.

  Forgiveness by God and/or men doesn’t remove sin’s consequences.  David committed adultery with Bathsheba then, when he realized a baby had been conceived, he committed murder by having her husband killed (See 2 Samuel 12:1-14).

  When Nathan confronted David, he confessed his sin.  Nathan told him he was forgiven… HOWEVER… the consequences of his sin would remain in place because David had given the enemies of the Lord a reason to defame His holy name (12:14a).  The consequences of David’s sin were…

  1) For the rest of his life Daivd would be at war… he’d never know peace… he’d always be having to fight (12:10).  2) Members of his own family would rise up and rebel against him (12:11a… Absalom in 2 Sam 15).  3) David’s wives would be taken from him and raped in broad daylight (12:11b).  4) The baby born to David and Bathsheba would die (12:14b… 2 Samuel 12:15-24).

  This shows how serious God is about sin.  It cannot just be forgiven… it has to be paid for… there are consequences.  What the Christian should realize is that sin’s consequences are NOT eternal, but they ARE temporal.  Thus the importances of Hebrews 12:4-11 and 1 Corinthians 11:31.  God’s discipline for sin brings about a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been traind by it.

  Aside: Restoration after sin does NOT mean a return to a former place of responsibility or visibility.  Restoration after egregous sin means inclusion in the fellowship of believers.

  There was another time in David’s life where he sinned horribly… was forgiven… and serious consequences were kept in place.  This is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1-19.  David, contrary to the Lord’s command, took a census of Israel.  This was sin because it caused David to rely upon the size and strength of his army rather than The Lord.  As a result of his sin, God gave David three options of what discipline would be for his disobedience.  Gad gave him the Lord’s options which were…

  1) Three years of famine (21:11a), 2) Three months of being defeated by his enemies (21:11b), 3) Three days of plague ravishing all of Israel (21:11c).

  David decided to place himself in God’s hand of mercy (21:13).  The result was that God sent an angel and 70,000 people died (21:14).  Then as the angel was about to strike Jerusalem, David and the elders cried out for mercy (21:16).  The angel then directed David to build an altar on a parcel of Araunah the Jebusite’s land.  Araunah offered to give David the land to which David gave the famous reply (21:24)… “No, I insist on paying the full price.  I will not take for the Lord what is yours or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” 

  Again we see that there is a price to be paid for sin that has nothing to do with forgiveness.  Again we see how serious God is about sin… specially in the lives of His children.  Again we see that part of forgiveness are the consequences that follow.  And again we see that in the midst of discipline we have a God who is merciful (See below).

  Honestly… this has not been a fun post for me to write!  I don’t like hearing these things any more than those who might read this post.  But it is better to read, know, and learn these things SO AS TO avoid them than not be aware and suffer. 

  My prayer is that we will see in these passages God’s grace and mercy.  WHAT?!  Yes.  It was after the baby died that David and Bathsheba had Solomon who was the wisest man who ever lived.  Notice also that God relented of the punishment being brought by the angel and accepted the sacrifice David made.  THIS is a God of justice AND mercy.  This is the kind of God I can… and do… worship!

  It is to our benefit to realize how serious God is about sin and it’s consequences.  It is to our benefit to hate sin and flee from it to God’s glory and for our benefit.  It is to our benefit to live holy lives unto God’s glory.