Separation and sin – 2016.08.16

Separation and sin – 2016.08.16

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59,1f
When the first missionaries arrived in Germania from Ireland, they were unable to find a word for sin – the Germanians did not know such a word. They thought long and hard and finally found a word that every Germanian knew and that described sin perfectly. This word was "Sunt", roughly translated as "strait". A strait separates two islands or mainlands from one another. It is a deep, narrow street of water. Such straits can be found in Denmark. So the old Germanians were able to understand sin. It separates from God, it separates our world from the Kingdom of God. It also separates every person and every Christian from their Lord.
So it becomes understandable why God finds it so important that we live without sin. And why our Father in Heaven gave everything so that sin cannot rule, but rather be quickly forgiven and rectified. He is the Father who loves us, who is deeply hurt by the separtion from His children.
We find it difficult to confess sin. We would rather find a thousand excuses or blame somebody else. The sin that makes the most difficulties for us is that of harboring unforgiveness. For ourselves, we wish our sins to be forgiven, but we hold onto the wrongs of others. How bad they are! How can they think, talk and act in such a manner? God should punish them!!- and our own sins are quietly pushed into the background.
Sin is separation from the God who gives us life. How can we as Christians live a happy life if we don’t forgive, but rather make room for bitterness and resentment. God cannot bless such a state.
We have a big apple tree in our garden. When we wanted to eat the apples, we realised that the worms had beaten us to it. Such tiny worms had eaten into the apples and made them inedible! It wasn’t a matter of bad weather, no storm or hail. No, it was a matter of these tiny worms. Such is the case with us Christians: the big things are usually rectified, but the thousand little things, small resentments, judgements, pride and unfriendliness… those are the things that separate us from God.
God is quick to forgive, because He loves His children. If we recognise and confess our sins through the Holy Spirit, He is faithful and fair and forgives. Then there is a bridge over the strait, namely the cross of Jesus.
Thank You, Father, You are not vindictive, but rather quick to forgive. Please screen me for any signs of resentment, greed, bitterness, pride, unforgiveness and other things. Bring them to the light, so that they may be forgiven and rectified! Yes, Father, I want to live in Your light!
Bible study for today: Revelations 5,1-14


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