Uncomfortable with Our Sin
I fear that one of the greatest temptations we can fall into is when we sin and do not immediately notice overwhelming negative consequences. There have been many times when I saw the results of sin as it destroyed families, harmed churches, and caused great self-inflicted pain. I have often found myself thinking, God, why did you allow such evil to take place?…I point at that person’s evil and I think, God why did you not address their sin immediately? Maybe you should reinstate the old “fire from heaven” thing or some of the plagues you used in Egypt…a little “vengeance is mine” type action. But then I realize how glad I am that God does not do that to me.
Can you imagine if God responded with justice, vengeance, and righteousness every time you sinned? He often responds to our sins with grace; He gives us patience we do not deserve. As the Psalmist put it, God often chooses to be “...slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 103:8 ESV) The problem I find with this is that His grace can lead to what feels like a “license” to sin. Speaking of licenses, can you imagine if no police officer ever required you to drive the speed limit? If the concept of speed limits were never enforced, my guess is that there would be far more individuals ignoring the speed limit. They would go whatever speed they felt was right in their own eyes. It is scary to think that in the absence of clear and immediate negative consequences for sin, it can lead us to believe there are no consequences of sin. In the Book of Numbers, we are taught that we ought to be, “...sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23b ESV) If we are serious about sanctification, we must not let the consequences of sin be the only motivator.
I like the anecdotal story recorded in a newspaper about a burglar who stalked a neighborhood. The burglar watched for homes left unguarded by people leaving on vacation (like the thieves in Home Alone). He watched as a family loaded suitcases into the car and departed. He waited until dark and then approached the front door and rang the bell. There was no answer. He picked the lock and let himself in. Cautiously he asked, “Is there anybody home?” He was stunned to hear in the dark home, “I see you and Jesus sees you.” Terrified, the burglar aimed his flashlight in the direction of the voice. He was relieved when he saw that the voice was coming from a parrot. The parrot once again said, “I see you and Jesus sees you.” The would-be thief chuckled to himself and proceeded into the house and turned on the lights. When he did, he saw underneath the parrot’s cage a Doberman pinscher and the parrot said, “Attack Jesus…attack!” This is a silly story, but the truth behind it remains. We must remember that our sins are not, nor have they ever been, ignored by our God. By admitting this to ourselves we can begin to think rightly about how to address our sins. Immediate consequences are very different from the pain of long-term sin.
Just like overusing a credit card which you cannot afford to pay off, the day will come when you have to deal with the reality of your situation. The best way forward is to be honest with yourself about what sin has been allowed to creep into your life and to take it very seriously. I pray that this week, as a church family, we will pay deliberate attention to those discreet and secret sins which have the potential to cause great harm in our lives.
Expectantly,
Shawn
