Sin and Sorrow All Part of This World
Posted: Thursday, June 19, 2008
by straight talk
Does one have to go down the lists of sin? Well evidently so because when you take a judgmental look around that is all you see. Yes the signs and symbols of sinful man are so abundant it can overwhelm you. Never mind the little sins, which are still sins but the many major ones that smack you hard in the face. What are they, well how about pride, lust, lies, omission, failing to do what is right, ignoring, cursing, gossip and on and on and on.
So if we are all sinners and fail to what degree is really the issue at hand. Do we exploit, take, steal, use, maim, kill, rape, pillage, burn, etc, etc, etc which we recognize as major sins. Or do we as I said ignore, omit, lie, show pride, ego, some of the minor sins. Yes still all sin.
So now that we have identified sin we need to understand that sorrow follows hand in hand. The Word says if we sin we pay a price for it. We suffer for our sin and yes we die, for the wages of sin is death. Yet no preacher, minister, priest, lay person, rabbi or any other religious has an answer as to why good, or I should say supposedly good people suffer so much? Then why, when those that cause the evil, the hurt, the pain, live in splendor, opulence and have all this world offers?
Well was not the world offered to Christ and He rejected it? Is that a lesson to be learned? Did He not die for all our sins, every single one of us? He carried them all to the cross. He also said we can do nothing, nada, zilch to save ourselves. Our works are but rags. So the answer is simple, really simple, the only way to heaven is through Him, Jesus Christ. You can accept Him and His sacrifice, pick up your cross and follow Him or reject Him, your choice alone.
Now here is the really hard part that many struggle with. If sin brings on punishment then why do those who steal, plunder, exploit, take, seem to have the good life? Why does it all fall their way? Yes once again no answer just conjecture, perhaps?
Well Jesus said very explicitly to His followers, trials will always be with you. They are actually an outward sign in fact of who you are and profess to be. Ok, so what am I getting at? Well the example Jesus gave was that even if you were to gain this entire world what good would it be if you lost your soul? He rejected the world whereas many do not. They relish in what the world offers. That is their true God no matter how they profess other wise. They search after, save, seek and yearn for all this world offers, luxury, wealth, power, riches. It is their God yet they do not recognize it. Why it consumes them day in and day out and it is always, get this first in their mind and subsequently their heart. Example, "money always trumps peace". You cannot get any clearer then that for the works of God are peace not money. So if you relish in money and wealth then regardless of what you say or profess you have made your choice, period, your bed.
Well conflict here. If they accepted Jesus and they are sinners and they cannot save themselves does it matter what they do here on earth? Ok, lets review that again, they accepted Jesus and claim to be saved. So as sinners will they get to heaven, right? Well some ministers will say no, they need to be born again, change. Well what we have here is a conflict. If they change how much? You see they are still sinners no matter what. They will always be sinners, no matter what. Hey it is the Word I'm not making this up, just paraphrasing.
Now if this is true why don't they suffer like the poor or average working people for their sins? So what we have is a contradiction of sorts. If one can be abused each day, suffer pain, emotional and financial stress, undergo trials, tribulations and have fear, anxiety, worry [all sins and evil] then where is my relief? How is that driven from me or should it be if I search in faith for it to be removed, healed or whatever? If we suffer for and with Christ how is that explained while others who by design, implement and execute evil, reap so much?
It is perplexing. If anyone tries to live right, reduce sin, believes and demonstrates what they believe in their works, why must they suffer, while those who ignore have? Oh, this is their reward? Well is that man saying that, since we are all sinners where does it say in the scripture? Oh the story of the rich man, go and give away all you have and come follow me. Is that it? Well that still doesn't answer me. What about, how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? Why is it so hard if they have claimed Jesus as their Lord?
Well in my opinion this is what it means to me. First we are all sinners and warrant nothing except through grace. Secondly we all have been assigned a role in life, in the plan, some to suffer some to not. Thirdly God entrusts those that have to do what is right and just for all, for the common good, for love of neighbor not themselves. Wealth of itself is not bad, power is not bad but what you do or not with it that is where the good or evil is. [What have you done for the least]. Fourthly I believe those of us who suffer have been chosen to share in the suffering of Jesus Christ, quite an honor, and in that we are to offer our sufferings up to God for everyone else.
Now that is just the way I look at it. I do not pretend to know what God thinks, thought, or why He knows and that should be enough. Not fair, well who are we to judge God? Also, are we when we seek this world saying our God is not Him, but an idol of this world? The things of this world mean more then focusing on Him. Therefore we shall know you by your works, what you have done or failed to do. We also know who is first in your belief system. Where your heart is so is your God, very true for many.
So the I believe God looks at what you do with what you have been given. Do you do what you say you are? Do you accept your situation humbly, something I fail at often as a human, or do you gripe, complain, moan and say why me, why them and not me? Only you and He knows the truth. Yes it can be shaded, covered, hidden but not from Him.
As Paul asked God to remove the thorn from him and it wasn't removed so it is with us. God will do what He wants to do with whom He wants, when He wants, period.
As for all the rest that comes from man and these are the beliefs of men. Perhaps that is why we have so many denominations, beliefs, rituals, obligation and faiths. Could it be that man just does not know what God thinks or thought? Well we have His Word and we can't even agree on that. I'm right, you're wrong. That's true this isn't, this version your version, etc.
I like to remember what Jesus said, and I will paraphrase, He came to make it easy, believe in Him, period. Love Him and Love your neighbor. If we did that this article would never be written nor would any of the others, nor would our economy, the wars or anything else negative ever be "and that's a fact Jack" as the line in the movie goes. It just wouldn't.
So you can exercise your beliefs this day by your vote and your deeds. If you propagate that which is harmful you are an accomplice, simple and pure. You cannot hide it. If you do not try to relieve the sorrows of your fellow man you fail to do who you profess you are, simple and pure. If by deed you increase those sorrows you demonstrate who you are and who is your God. It is really that simple. Yes Love Him and Love your neighbor and in this all is satisfied.
So you who profess, believe, practice why do you do the things you do? You know in your heart what I am speaking to, why? Who is your real God? Yes and since the creation of the Devil, Sin and sorrow all part of this world.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright ©2008 Robert Melaccio
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