We are wonderfully made. We are made with the image of God stamped upon us. His glory, that pre-glory before the fall, still exists within us. That is why sin is defined as falling short of His glory. We deviate from the holiness intended for us and sin invades our lives.
We know something is missing if we are truly honest with ourselves. We are not walking the path which walks with God. We are making our own way. It is a lonely path for we were never intended to hide in the garden hoping that God would not notice our sin. Our existence was made to enjoy the presence of God.
Yet, many people try to fill the God-sized hole which remains when God is removed. It is a futile effort. No one can fill the infinite-sized emptiness with finite things. Yet, you may try.
You may try distractions. Here, you work or play with such fervor that you hardly notice that something is missing. I noticed a large gash in my elbow in the emergency room after a car wreck once. I didn't even notice the pain because I had gotten so caught up in the work the paramedics were doing on me during the ambulance ride. The pain still existed but I was so distracted that I didn't notice it until later. Sometimes you can be so distracted that you simply do not notice the pain that sin brings.
You may try to redefine sin. You may not realize it but that also means you must redefine God too. You must create a god whose standard fits comfortably within your own lifestyle. Then, you define sin outside of your own lifestyle. You may even declare yourself to "sin" so that you can feel magnanimous about your creation. It makes you one of the people who fall but you at least understand it all because of your superior understanding of this god you have created.
You may just live in your guilt. I hate this for people. You don't need to live in guilt. Living in guilt is paying for something that has already been paid for.
No, there is only one way to deal with sin. It is to accept the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has
provided for it. It is to walk again into God's presence and into His glory. It is to have that God-sized hole filled with the only Person who can fill it.
The story of Jesus Christ is the best news ever. He came to bring us back to where we belong. He didn't come to distract, redefine or ask us to live in our sins. He came to save us from our sins.
John 3:17 (ESV)
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
1 comment:
This is so true and very moving!
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