by Jim Hughes
Lam. 3:37-42 Can anything happen without the LORD’s permission? Is it not the Most High who helps one and harms another? Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn again in repentance to the LORD. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say, “We have sinned and rebelled, and you have not forgiven us.”
Just because the Lord permits things to happen doesn’t mean He orchestrates it. We must understand the distinction. God gives us freedom of choice; He doesn’t make our choices for us. We are not puppets on a string destined to do only what God ordains for us to do. God knows those who will respond properly to His help and those who won’t. He knows what He is planning to do and those whom to bless to make it happen. There is a mystery to this that we will never grasp. We must learn to trust in what God does and permits to happen.
We basically have two responses when we experience the consequences of our sins. Some will ignore them and continue on doing what they are doing, denying the fact that whatever they are experiencing is the result of sinful choices. They tend to complain and blame when they endure the consequences of sin. Others will recognize that they are responsible for the messes they get themselves into and strive to change. The negative effect sin has on our lives will either be good or bad for us.
Those who continue on in sin can only expect more of the same. Things won’t get any better for them because they aren’t any better in their souls. Sin breeds sin. Instead of complaining about the consequences of sin, one should stop sinning and turn to the Lord. Failure to do so ends up hardening the soul against God and will eventually lead the soul into hell.
On the other hand, when we stop and examine ourselves, acknowledge our sin and repent, we are changed and begin to stop the cycle of sinning. We will never be better until we do repent and seek Christ’s forgiveness. When we learn from our sin mistakes and turn to the Lord, He leads us on the pathway to heaven.
The Lord will help us with our sin problem, but only if we let Him. We must deal with sin the proper way. We must not complain about how bad things are; we must instead turn to the Lord and repent. Only Christ can change us so that we can change our ways and attitude. Let Jesus have His way with you. You will be glad you did.
About the Author:
Spending his formative years in Ft. Wayne, IN, Jim followed the love of his life to southeast Iowa where they married and have spent the majority of their lives. Jim has pastored several churches throughout his life and has worked many years in local factories to help support his family. The father of two married adult children and one son still at home, Jim is a first-time author.
C Through Marriage came into being through many years of pastoral and life experiences. The book first took on a life of its own over 20 years ago when I sought to address the much publicized moral failures of prominent leaders in the church. In the chapter on Chasity, I include the guideliness that I developed then to protect one's self from such failures.
I am a firm believer in order to make sense out of life you have to use much common sense. We need to get back to the basics of what has worked for many, many generations. If is isn't broke, why try to fix it? I strive to return to the basics of what really works in all my writings.
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