It’s Just a Little One

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“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”   - James 2:10

“He’s a good kid”, I hear the parents say as they talk about the teenagers at a social gathering one night.  “Sure, he gets into a little trouble now and then, but it’s harmless and all teenagers do that anyway.  It’s not like anyone expects him to be a saint”, they continued.  I couldn’t help but think about the decline of our system of values and morals to the point where we are determining that it is okay for our children to get into trouble, as long as it isn’t serious.  There was a time when we held higher standards for our children, and expected that they would stay out of trouble and harms way.  There was a time when it was okay to actually punish your child when they crossed the line, and in doing so they learned respect and righteousness.  It’s frustrating to see some youth in today’s society, completely disregard any and all instructions and correction from their parents or other authority figures.  The result that lies on the horizon in 10 years or 15 is a group of adults who don’t care about rules, laws and the ethical code of society.  As long as they don’t perceive that others are being harmed, it’s okay.

Did you sin today?  The answer is yes.  Whether you think you had a great day or a bad day, you sinned against God’s Holy Word.  An unrighteous thought, a small white lie, exceeding the speed limit, cursing, lust, greed, anger, resentment, jealousy and pride are all simple examples.  They happen daily in each of our lives, not because we intentionally want to be evil and break God’s laws, but because we are human an incapable of living without sin.  I don’t care who you are and where you think you are on the continuum of righteousness, we all fall dreadfully short of the example Christ gave us to live by.  According to Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and thereby we are all sinners and damned to Hell.  For according to James 2:10 above if we are guilty of one sin, regardless of how small, we are guilty of them all.

The reality is that you cannot live your life in a manner that is worthy of the God’s glory or redemption.  Heaven is unreachable through acts of righteousness and good works.  You cannot do enough good things to overcome the sin that has plagued you since your birth.  You cannot wash yourself clean of the tainted blood that runs through your veins.  It’s clearly impossible to reach heaven on your own, for God requires complete righteousness and holiness to dwell in His eternal heaven.  Therefore, without intervention, you and I are destined to eternal damnation, separated from God the Father.

I know it seems harsh, and unfair, and unloving of God to create such a perfect place for some and damn the rest to the pits of Sheol.  But, the reality is that He created this perfect place for all of His children, including you and your loved ones.  In 2 Peter 3:9 we read, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”, and I believe this to be true.  Paradise was created for all mankind to commune with our perfect Creator for eternity.  We are choosing to miss the mark, it is not because of God’s design or wishes, but because of our selfishness and choices to live outside of His principals.

As the disciples then asked Jesus, “…who then can be saved?”, we likewise must ask the same.  Paul tells us in many different ways throughout God’s Holy word, but I have found tit best described in Romans 3:24, “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Jesus Christ came to demonstrate what perfection was, but also to give us a path way, a plan and an opportunity to get right with God’s perfect holiness.  His sacrifice provided the redemption and washing away of our sins, such that we will stand before God one day, not in perfection from anything we have done, but perfect through the blood of our Savior. 

All sin is wrong, and God’s grace doesn’t make it right.  His grace provides forgiveness that we do not deserve.  The sin in this life will still have major effect on those around you, and even on your life.  The reality is that we cannot avoid sin, but we also cannot condone it.  As you grow in Christ and your knowledge of His ways, learn to emulate His life and live by His principals of serving others, loving others and living by peace and humility.  Seek His forgiveness, daily, for the wrong doings in your life and lay them down once and for all.  When the new sun rises walk with Him and His teaching, living by the standards that created our moral fabric of life.  Others will then look at you and through you see the love of God and peace of His Son.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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