Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, that He will not hear. Isaiah 59: 1, 2, NKJV (Emphasis provided).
Dear God, thank you so much for watching over us. Thank You for opening our eyes to how terrible sin is. Please help us to love You so much that we will not allow anything to separate us from You. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
We just finished a series on the topic of forgiveness. We will now take a look at sin – what makes forgiveness necessary. Sometimes I wonder if we saw sin as something we committed against God, not just against each other, if it would make a difference; if we would try harder not to sin. Whether we realize it or not, all sin, regardless of its nature, is ultimately, committed against God; because sin, causes separation between us and God. And apart from Him, we can do no good! Let us look at two examples: one man sinned; the other man was tempted to sin, but did not. Yet they both concluded, that whatever they would have done, or had done, would have been, or was, committed against God. Let us listen as they express themselves:
“… How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?I am sure you recognize these as the words of Jacob. Serving as a steward in the household of Potiphar, everything in Potiphar’s house was at Jacob’s command. He came and went at will, and had to answer to no man, not even Pharaoh! The degree of trust that had been deposited in him was quite unusual. Listen to Jacob as he refuses to give in to Mrs. Potiphar’s familiarities, “Look, with me here, my Master has no concern about anything in in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God” (Genesis 39: 8, 9, NRSV)? It would seem like the most logical thing for Jacob to see this sin as against Potiphar, and it would have been. But Jacob rightly recognized that, ultimately, whatever sin he committed, is would have been committed, against God!
Who “became sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5: 21)? Upon who were the sins of the world laid? Wasn’t it upon “God,” who “was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (19)? Our sins caused Him great pain!
“Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight- that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.” I am sure that most of you are acquainted with the author of these words. David the king, one who God had declared, “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13: 14), spoke them after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite, and then had Uriah murdered. When the prophet confronted him and he saw the enormity of his sin, in deep contrition and pain, David confessed his sin, against God.
My humble opinion on this matter, is that, when we sin against each other, it is wrong; (I will in no way try to minimize sinning against each other); but the truth being spoken, we do not deserve any good thing, anyway, for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3: 23)! And whatever a [person ] sows, that [he or she] will also reap” (Galatians 6: 7). So sin, against one another, includes, to an even greater degree, a direct offense against God, who has done no wrong, nor deserves to have wrong done to Him!
Therefore, on that final day, when God judges us, He will be “found just … and blameless,” for in sinning against each other, we have all sinned against Him. May we remember this when dealing with each other; and may sin become very offensive in our sight!