The Cause of God's Pain

     SIN is extremely painful to God and to all creation.  In Heaven, SIN caused a war that left millions of holy beings alienated from God and each other.  On earth, SIN opened the flood gates to disease, decay and death.  On Calvary, SIN tore a Father away from His only begotten Son, as They both suffered the anguish of separation while carrying through the plan of salvation.  Listen to the voice of Christ as He cries out on Calvary: “My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?”  (Matthew 27:46).  The separation that SIN causes is real. 

     This concept of SIN is rarely understood as evidenced by our love for it and continual practice of it.  But when the Holy Spirit reveals SIN in its true nature, it will lose its attraction and will be seen as that which separates us from everything and everyone we love.  It will be seen that death, divorce, war, and estrangement are all the results of SIN. 

     One might think that a topic so serious would be commonly discussed, yet SIN is rarely preached about.  You may rarely hear sermons about it.  This is not because it has ceased to exist.  In actuality, it is more prominent today than ever before.  Why is it that so many avoid the topic?  It is because SIN has become acceptable, even fashionable in most religious circles.  And because it's so common today, most close their eyes to it.  Somehow, we believe that God will overlook the very thing that crucified His only begotten Son.  But this is not true.  God will never compromise with SIN.  In Christ, He provided everything needful for us to overcome this terrible disease.  But we must take advantage of His solution rather than avoid the problem altogether. 

     Divine love (agape) is SIN's only antidote. We do not naturally possess this type of love.  Therefore, we do not naturally have a defense against SIN.  Having a “good heart” will not suffice.  Neither will being a “good” moral and decent person.  Only the love which originates in God can deter the soul from SIN.  Human love (Eros) is insufficient.

     When we possess divine love we will cease to do that which creates a wedge between us and God.  Our desire to be with God will be stronger than our desire to please ourselves through the practice of SIN.  But when this love is lacking, we will embrace the separation and continue the practice of SIN without regard.  This choice ultimately leads to condemnation: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than life, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).

     Making a choice to continue in SIN when we know it is wrong is extremely dangerous and suicidal.  Few realize that separation from God means separation from life itself.  There is no such thing as "life" apart from God.  "He that has the Son has life, He that has not the Son, has not life" (1 John 5:12).  "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4).  Creationists believe that it was God that gave life to all mankind.  It is His to give, and His to take back.  When we choose to practice SIN, we also choose to forfeit the life given to us as a gift.  Contrary to popular belief, death is not an arbitrary punishment inflicted by God on those who choose a life of SIN.  Death is simply the result of our separation from God, the supreme Source of life. 

     When we turn off the lights at night, darkness appears.  Likewise, when we turn from the Source of life through SIN, death appears.  This is why choosing to continue a life of SIN is nothing less than self-inflicted destruction.  We destroy our own souls.  God says, "He that sins against Me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate Me love death" (Proverbs 8:36).  In the end, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves if we are lost.

     It is my prayer that all will take advantage of the divine remedy.  It is written, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us" (Romans 5:5).  Divine love for God poured into the selfish soul is the only cure for SIN.  It alone provides the power needed to resist temptation.  It alone makes us loyal citizens of the city of God.  It alone creates a desire to be with God so strong that it overpowers our fleshly cravings for SIN.   This amazing love is a gift from God and it is freely given to anyone wishing to be delivered from SIN.

     If you recognize your deficiencies today, there is hope for you.  Realize that Jesus died in agony--while His Father watched in agony--so that you could be reconciled to God.  Together, They experienced the awful separation that SIN causes so that you wouldn't have to.  It is not enough for you to want to be saved from your life of difficulties, or even this evil world.  You must desire to be saved from your life of SIN.  You must desire to be rescued from all of your evil practices, practices that would never be permissible in the presence of Jesus.  Thank God that all of this is possible through Christ, for it is written "all things are possible for him that believes" (Mark 9:23). Let's pray this prayer together:

     "Jesus, I am sorry for the pain and agony that You experienced on Calvary.  I realize now, that You were experiencing separation from our Father that my SIN caused.  I still struggle with some things in my life, so please give me Your love to counteract my selfishness.  I want to be filled with Your self-sacrificing love today.  Lord, I believe.  Help Thou my unbelief.  In Your name, Amen." 

Praying for you--Pastor DL

READ MORE DEVOTIONALS