June 20, 2008
How
Often?
As I
drove around the corner, there was a raven (a black bird) feasting on a piece of
road kill, or perhaps it was a bit of garbage. The raven was so intent on eating
that it wasn't paying attention and was slow to fly out of the way. Only a bit
of adept braking kept the raven from joining the feast permanently.
As soon as I
had passed, the raven flew back and began eating once again. It seemed to have
absolutely no idea how close it had just come to death.
I wonder how
often we're like that slow to react raven. We're oblivious to the dangers around
us and have no concept of how often we're saved by God's intervention in our
lives.
I wonder how
often the mercy of God's wrath keeps us from paying the full and immediate price
for our sins. We blunder along in life sinning as we go. Sometimes it's
unintentional; sometimes we simply don't know any better, but often it's
outright rebellion that we choose.
God's Word
makes it clear what the penalty for sin is.
For the wages
of sin is death Romans 6:23a NIV
There have been
times in Scripture where God has chosen to make examples of people and show the
cost of their sin immediately. One of many examples is the story of Ananias and
his wife Sapphira.
Now a man
named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but
brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
Then Peter
said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have
lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you
received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it
was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a
thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
When Ananias
heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had
happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him
out and buried him.
About three
hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her,
"Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes,"
she said, "that is the price."
Peter said to
her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of
the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out
also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young
men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her
husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these
events. Acts 5:1-11 NIV
If it weren't
for God's great patience the same fate would have befallen all of us a long time
ago.
Next time you
get angry that the wicked seem to be getting "away with it", remember
that just because God is patient, it doesn't mean people are getting away with
any thing. There will be a day of reckoning for all of us. The fact that the day
of reckoning might be postponed doesn’t mean it is not coming.
Remember that
before we accepted Jesus the punishment for our sins was postponed as well. Once
we have accepted Him we become the recipients of His mercy and forgiveness and
not just His patience.
Until next
time, rejoice in God's great patience and in the mercy He offers to all who will
accept Him.
But remember:
As a dog
returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.
Proverbs 26:11
But it is
happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to
his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2:20-22
So today I ask
what is it that you keep going back to that will cost you your relationship with
God, your freedom, or even yes, your very life and eternal destiny?
Is it really
worth it? I thought you said, Jesus was your Lord, be careful saying,
“No”, to
the King!
You never know
when returning to your garbage, your vomit or your mud will cost you forever!
Be
blessed.
Darrel
Mason