Eight hundred sixty years after Joshua led them into the Promised Land, the Jews lost it because of their failure to follow God’s Law. How many times had He told them, “If you will but turn from your wicked ways, I will restore you.” But time and time again they went back to their sinful ways like a dog returns to his vomit. It is sad, but it is a sobering reminder that even though God is love, He is a righteous and holy God.
Patience does not imply weakness or the condoning of evil. It does not indicate forgetfulness. When warning after warning is given and ignored, it should not be a surprise when patience ends and judgment falls.
Some Christians have a casual attitude regarding grace. They think that because God doesn’t send fire from Heaven or the ground to open up and swallow sinners, that He does not take sin seriously. They think that since “Jesus paid it all”, then sin is no big deal.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Sin…my sin…your sin…is the reason Jesus was beaten beyond recognition and then brutally nailed to a rough hewn, splinter filled wooden cross in the most brutal execution method ever devised by man.
Do you honestly think God is soft on sin?
The only reason you and I do not have to face the consequences of our sin is because of the infinitely selfless sacrifice made by the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter, the son of Mary, the Son of the Living God. Yes, He was (and is) God, but He was also human. The prospect of making that sacrifice was terrifying. Reread His prayer at Gethsemane if you doubt it. As He hung on the cross, He felt excruciating pain.
Is God soft on sin?
No. He. Is. Not. God’s judgment, ALL of it, fell on Jesus.
So the grace that brings forgiveness to me and to you (if you are a follower of Jesus) was not, and is not cheap. Never forget it, and always be thankful for it.
If you have not given your life to Jesus, don’t be like the Jews and think that God’s patience with you means He doesn’t care, isn’t paying attention, or worse yet…isn’t there. The Jews were His chosen people. He loved them. But He brought severe judgment on them. The time eventually came where time was up, and they were taken into captivity. Your time will come, too. It might come today, tomorrow, next year or 50 years from now. Each of us is working on finite time. Don’t let time run out before you accept the gift of grace offered by Jesus that He paid so dearly for.
Your thoughts?