Jim's Jots and Tittles. . .
Who Lets Who Down?
Sin causes one to have really strange thoughts. When we are involved in a sin we don't stop to think about the pain or consequences we are going to have to bear. And when we finally realize the consequences of a sin, if seems natural to find and excuse or put the blame on someone else. And when all else fails, we make an effort to justify a sin.
But have you ever thought that God had betrayed you or that He wasn't fair because He did not spare the pain you suffered because of a sin? I recently read an article where one thought God had betrayed her because He had let her life go differently than she had wanted, even though she knew what she did was wrong. And to top that, she felt that God somehow should have spared her the pain she suffered because of sin.
As I said, sin causes us to have strange thoughts and deceives us in so many ways. We fail to consider what is right or wrong, and end up doing as we please, not what pleases God. It is then that we attempt to justify a sin, or as this individual did, place the blame on God.
When one considers that God would betray someone, he is denying the true character of God and ignoring the true character of mankind. "For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:3-6)
You see, God does not betray. He extends His mercy to save. We are the one who betrays through the deceitfulness of sin. "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)
God's mercy is there when we have to deal with sin. "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) That does not sound like a God who would betray anyone, does it.
No, God does not let us down. He is always there. "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)
The deceitfulness of sin will always let you down. It will lead to betraying God and His word. But faithfulness will always lift you up. "Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." (1 John 3:7).
—Jim Hunt
