A Closer Look At Failure

From the time Adam and Eve fell, all of mankind was destined to sin because of the sin nature passed to all of us from Adam.  It never is a surprise to God when we sin because nothing ever surprises God.  It is not to say that our sin does not frustrate or hurt Him because the Bible teaches that our sin does affect the heart of God.  But we must not be too hard on ourselves regarding our sin.  (Easy now, don't label me a heretic just yet.)  Jesus paid a great ransom to deliver us from our sin and this act was completed over 2000 years ago.  

I find though that many of God's children relate their acts of obedience to making God happy and that failure brings God's wrath or disgusts Him.  If we are not careful this  makes the issue all about us; it's just another "works" thing.  In other words when we sin and find ourselves broken and remorseful we are commanded to return to Him and seek His grace.    Why else would He make forgiveness such an easy thing to get from Him?  To beat yourself up over sin is to make you the issue and this is never in agreement with the mind of God.  Forgiveness is for sinners of which the Apostle Paul said he was the greatest.  We are in good company.   

There is a fine line between beating yourself up over sin and using the grace of God as a license to sin (Romans 6:1).  Matthew 5 teaches us that blessed are they that mourn (for their sin) for they shall be comforted.  This mourning for our sin is to lead us to the wonderful comfort of His forgiveness.  Often our sin shakes us back into the reality that we need Him more than ever and our failures are a constant reminder of this truth.  

Our obedience should originate from a heart full of love and admiration for Him and not a way of proving to Him that we are becoming like Him.  However close I am to being like Him is for Him to consider and not me.  I am not out to prove how I have acheived some greatness.  I am to exalt Him in my heart and allow that to overflow into my life.   To be sure the Bible teaches that our works make our faith alive in the eyes of others but God looks on the heart.

It has never been sin that brought the wrath of God upon His people; it is the unrepentant heart and the refusal to get right with God that always brings judgment.

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  This doesn't sound like an angry God, but One that is coaxing us back to Him that we may receive forgiveness and be restored. 

We are sinners and this is no revelation to God.  The issue is not how good you can be but how closely you walk with Him, love Him, and desire to please Him.

Have a great day!!