Why Is Sin So Sinful?

This seems like a silly question. Even so, it needs to be answered in order for us to understand why God hates sin.

Sin separates us from all God's goodness and his love for us. We see that when Adam and eve hid after eating that forbidden fruit. Genesis 3:9 (BBE) shows how the loving relationship between the first two people and God caused panic in their souls. "And the voice of the Lord God came to the man, saying, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'Hearing your voice in the garden I was full of fear, because I was without clothing: and I kept myself from your eyes.'"

For millennia, people have shunned the Lord's word. We find how he felt about that rejection in Jeremiah 44:4 (KJV) when he said, "Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate."

God showed how wicked wilful disobedience is in 1 Samuel 15:22 and 23 (BBE) when King Saul didn't destroy all of the enemy's livestock like the Lord told him to. "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as much delight in offerings and burned offerings as in the doing of his orders? Truly, to do his pleasure is better than to make offerings, and to give ear to him than the fat of sheep. For to go against his orders is like the sin of those who make use of secret arts, and pride is like giving worship to images. Because you have put away from you the word of the Lord, he has put you from your place as king.'"

People often quote Jeremiah 29:11 (BBE) as if it applied to themselves. It actually was addressed to Israel while the nation was in Babylonian captivity. The verse reads, "For I am conscious of my thoughts about you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end." But it is true that God wants to give us blessings.

Jesus told a parable about a landowner who hired out his vineyard to labourers. They beat and stoned the servants whom he sent at harvest time and the tenants refused to pay their rent. Mark 12:6 and 7 (BBE) records, "He still had one, a dearly loved son: he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will have respect for my son.' But those workmen said among themselves, 'This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death, and the heritage will be ours.'"

As Christ predicted,Jerusalem was utterly destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. And a day will come when the entire heavens and Earth will be replaced with new heavens and a new earth. Every person ever born will be judged then.

I'll be mentioning this fact often in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? People think their Christening or good works will get them there but they won't.

On Saturday, I'll hopefully post about a piece of furniture which writers use and why it's such a blessing to have one.

Saturday Song: The Marmalade, "Reflections of My Life"

This is one song which resonated perfectly with me, though I was only thirteen when it was on the air. I remember standing on the brow of the hill overlooking the classrooms at Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind one March afternoon. On my transistor radio came this song and I thought how it reflected my life.

Listen to the song here.

Like the person in the song, my life seemed terrible but I didn't want to die. I was as trapped in my misery as that character in the song was trapped in his.

Fortunately for me, God had my future in his hands. Had I known that I wouldn't be going to Jericho anymore after the school year ended, I would have felt more hopeful.

Though Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) was addressed to the Israelite exiles, we can take it as our promise too. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

My exile ended in 1970. That autumn, I was sent to a public school in Edmonton which had disability counsellors to help us with reading print texts. I boarded during the week with a family and went home on weekends. Not only did I feel better about being in a regular home during the week but I was able to stay with my family on the weekends. The dorms at Jericho were so sterile and unnatural compared to a real home with a real family.

So, what do you think of this song and what I wrote here? Please drop me a note. Have a great weekend too.

Saturday Song: Gilbert O Sullivan, Alone Again

This number one song from 1972 expresses the views of many folks who doubt the kindness of God or even his existence. And as sad as it is when loved ones die and grooms or brides are jilted at the altar, people put the blame on the Lord.

Hear Gilbert O. Sullivan's song here.

 But God isn't some sort of cosmic bully who enjoys setting people up like bowling pins and then knocking them down with the bowling balls of adversity. Throughout the Bible, we can tell that he wants the best for humanity.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) was written to Israel but it also applies to any one who trusts in God. Jeremiah, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit,  wrote, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Though God punishes wickedness, he takes no pleasure in doing it. Hebrews 12:6 (KJV) says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,  and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." And he does it for our good, not for sadistic pleasure as some folks claim.

So, has God let you down or did YOU let you down? Please tell me what you think of this song in the comment box below. And if you don't want to do that, have a beautiful weekend anyway.