Not being reconciled to the fact of sin— not recognizing it and refusing to deal with it— produces all the disasters in life. You may talk about the lofty virtues of human nature, but there is something in human nature that will mockingly laugh in the face of every principle you have. If you refuse to agree with the fact that there is wickedness and selfishness, something downright hateful and wrong, in human beings, when it attacks your life, instead of reconciling yourself to it, you will compromise with it and say that it is of no use to battle against it. Have you taken this "hour, and the power of darkness" into account, or do you have a view of yourself which includes no recognition of sin whatsoever? In your human relationships and friendships, have you reconciled yourself to the fact of sin? If not, just around the next corner you will find yourself trapped and you will compromise with it. But if you will reconcile yourself to the fact of sin, you will realize the danger immediately and say, "Yes, I see what this sin would mean." The recognition of sin does not destroy the basis of friendship— it simply establishes a mutual respect for the fact that the basis of sinful life is disastrous. Always beware of any assessment of life which does not recognize the fact that there is sin.
Jesus Christ never trusted human nature, yet He was never cynical nor suspicious, because He had absolute trust in what He could do for human nature. The pure man or woman is the one who is shielded from harm, not the innocent person. The so-called innocent man or woman is never safe. Men and women have no business trying to be innocent; God demands that they be pure and virtuous. Innocence is the characteristic of a child. Any person is deserving of blame if he is unwilling to reconcile himself to the fact of sin.
Oswald Chambers
I've seen this played out time and time again, where someone does not recognize the fact of sin in their life and then follows a path away from God. He is still part of their life and they are active in His service but there has been a 'turning away' from Him, of a sort. My husband calls it Gods perfect will as opposed to His permissable will. I think that there is much that He would excuse in our lives because of His permissable will, because He is merciful and full of grace toward us. To follow in obedience His perfect will we must acknowlege the fact of sin in our life, and our own attraction to it, and then turn away from it. Gods will always draws us closer to Him.
Just some thoughts that struck me today.
6 comments:
you ever think that sometimes people spend more time looking at other peoples lives than their own? its kind of like an obsession to find fault in someone so that there is someone to blame.
it's always easier to look at others than it is to look at ourselves. that's why we rely on our friends to help us look at ourselves.
i completely agree with you james. after a while it just holds you back. your friends are the people you give permission to look into your life. everyone else is only being critical.
This is where humility is so vitral in a believer's life. Always knowing that we are corrupt, and yet always relying on His grace and mercy.
Good reminder! Thanks.
By O.C. are you talking about obsessive-compulsive disorder?
If so I thinking that...ah never mind I think I left the coffee pot on and I need to wash my hands again!
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