Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Daily Light - June 30, 2010

Daily Light from the Lighthouse

"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin,
but now they have no excuse for their sin."
John 15:22

There is a popular idea that God is this angry figure that dwells in the clouds ready to throw lightning bolts at those who sin break His law. Another mainstream view of God is that He is a doting grandfather that sees us sin but pats on the head and sends us on our way because we don't know any better. You will not find either one of these descriptions in the Bible. It is true that God hates sin, because He is holy. The word holy when referring to God means that He is completely perfect and separate from sin. It is not a choice of His "will" to be pure from sin; it is His very nature. He does not act holy; He is holy. That is why the angels declare Him to be "holy, holy, holy". Since He is holy, He cannot tolerate sin. Fortunately for us, He is also merciful and gracious. His desire is not to punish us but to give us the opportunity of repentance and faith so that we might turn our hearts and lives over to Him.
Some believe that Jesus came to condemn people to hell but that is not what the Bible teaches at all. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to condemn the world but to save them from their sin. That was the reason that He died on the cross for the sins of mankind. He offered each and every individual life eternal. However, do not think that this offer of God's grace can be ignored by man and him not suffer the consequences of his decision. Jesus came to His own and made them aware of their need of a Savior. He showed them Himself and offered unto them eternal life, but they chose to reject the Messiah and wait for another. Therefore, He told them that they could not stand before the Father with any excuse for their decision on their lips.
This is true with every man and woman that has lived through all of history and those that are living today. God in His compassion and mercy has given man the opportunity of salvation through His Son and the evidence of Himself. Our passage for today is reinforced by other Scripture. The psalmist explains how even nature itself manifests the reality of God Almighty: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night utters knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." Man has tried to explain away the creation of God with theories that refute that there is a Creator. However, those same people will stand before God silent and condemned in their own words, because they know in their heart that what they see in nature could not have possibly happened by mere chance. Not only did God give us His creation to prove His nature and reality, but He also gave each of us a conscience that is fully aware of right and wrong and the reality of God. Paul says this in the book of Romans: "What may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Man must not listen to his limited intellect or his humanly devised theories of God. If he would simply listen to his God-given conscience, he would be fully aware of the fact that God is real. This same God is a loving Father that is holy and separate from sin, but He loves the sinner enough to die in His place and be His Savior.
May you know God today not only in your mind but also in your heart!

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