John 3:16-19
God will get the glory.
I have come to a point in my life where I know people struggle with sin. The varied nature of their sin boils down to a few things, mainly that people have put themselves and their needs and wants in the primary position above God. I am not surprised that people sin, rather I am broken-hearted at their choice and the results of their sin.
I have committed sins that have broken-down relationships and created barriers to my growth in Christ. I have thought more highly of myself than I ought and struggled to forgive others of their sin. This reminds me all the more that no matter where we are in our walk with Christ we still struggle with our sin-nature.
The sin-nature of humanity is part of our curse as descendants of Adam and Eve, this sin nature does not give us the excuse to sin, rather it reminds us that we have a need for a Savior. Romans 5:12 reminds us, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" We know that all people struggle with sin, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8.
The question remains for most people, what is sin? We live in a world where the word “Sin” is not respected, understood or even thought as something that a person could do. People will justify their actions, minimize the impact of their choices, and generally not think about the consequences. James 4:17 simplifies the definition of sin for us, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
In a world where cultural relativism reigns and the ends justify the means people struggle to even recognize right and wrong. How did we get here? It is a slippery slope that started with Adam and Eve and ends when Christ returns. In a lawless land, as described in the parable of the Vineyard Owner (Mark 12:1-12), God sent the law and the prophets to give direction, and when people continued in their sin He sent His Son.
John 3:16-19 clarifies God’s love for us:
16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
The sins of people in this world these past weeks have broken my heart and frustrated me. In their sins, people need Jesus but have chosen their own selfishness. I pray that God may soften the hearts of individuals, I pray that God would give me opportunity in my spheres of influence to reveal His gift of mercy. I pray for those stuck in sin to meet Jesus as their Savior and be set free from the sin that has them entangled.
My responsibility as a follower of Christ is to reveal Him and His gift of salvation and forgiveness. I may not have the influence or ability to speak on the national level like Billy Graham, but I do have the ability to share the gospel simply with those Christ has brought into my life. As followers of Christ we speak with gentleness to those struggling to know Jesus, hoping that God would grant them repentance and reveal the truth to them as we are told to do in 2 Timothy 2:25-26.
In a world where sin is prevalent and people think they can do no wrong, things will go from bad to worse until they recognize their need for a savior. My prayer is for the world to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, no matter what happens in this world I will not be deterred from this mission. As the old hymn by Ira Stanphill reminds us, “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand…” Many sins in this world I don’t understand, but I do know that God will get the glory no matter what yesterday or tomorrow will bring.