­­PERMISSIVE MIS-PERCEPTIONS

‘Propitiation’ was to show God’s righteousness, because in his forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time.  Romans 3:25-26

            I’ve been pretty worked up emotionally since writing yesterday.  I realized that I didn’t really grasp, nor convey, the weight of this verse.  So, I’m writing again on the same thing. 

            I think I’ve treated my sin, and God’s holiness, casually.  It’s as if I was adopted into a family with an overly permissive father.  As a new member of the family, I was told that, while he’d rather his children obey, when we sin, he’ll always forgive us.  Forgiveness was cheap.  Sinning was easy.  The holiness of the father was immaterial and not to be taken too seriously.  He was really a pushover and his longsuffering nature gave the illusion that forgiveness didn’t cost him all that much.  With a wave of his hand he cleared sin’s debt.   

            If I had lived at the time of Jesus, and if I’d accompanied Him through the last twenty four hours of His life, I’d have been horrified at what He suffered.  I’d have been pleading with the soldiers to stop their mistreatment.  “Enough!” I would have cried.  Yet, Jesus would have silenced my objections, as He did with Peter, to remind me that the crucifixion He faced was what it would take to extend forgiveness any time I asked for it.  My first hand knowledge and experience of His suffering would forever temper my desire to sin.  His innocence, and my guilt, would haunt me. 

            Adam and Eve experienced the killing of the first sacrifice.  An animal lost its life so that the skin could cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness.  Having never seen bloodshed, I wonder if they were traumatized by the act.  I bet so.  The world of Eden was forever shattered on that day.  Sinning put in motion the need for bloodshed in order for repentant sinners to be covered, and then washed clean.  The ultimate cost would be the blood of Jesus which should ever be in my vision when I’m tempted to sin.  What may look so desirable that causes me to cave is really the very thing which propelled the hammer that nailed the hands and feet of my Savior.  Oh, what it cost Him every time He says so graciously, “Christine, I forgive you.” 

Help me hate sin the way You hate it and remember the cross.   Amen