Sin Hurts, but God is Good
There are some days in life where I am utterly exhausted because the frailties are just overwhelming. Friendships wither away, loved ones pass, dreams become distant, and it all starts to take a toll on my heart. All of what happens to us in life is caused by one of three things:
Sins we have committed.
Sins other have committed that affect us.
The result of a fallen world because of sin.
As you can see, there’s a trend. Sin has caused a rift in our world that has tainted every moment of our lives. Our greatest delights on earth are only shadows of what was meant to be. We were created for a life in perfect communion with God and eternal satisfaction in Him. In Genesis 1, we get the telling of how the Triune God created the world. The end of each day of creation is bookended with the same phrase, “…and it was good”. What does that show? That each day of creation was intricately made by a God who only makes good things out of an overflow of His perfection. As we continue on in the Genesis narrative, mankind is made and something unique happens. God says we are “very good,” letting us know that humanity is the crown jewel of all creation because we are made in the same likeness as the Creator Himself (Gen 1:26-28). God is absolutely glorious in all He does.
In the first chapter of Ephesians we get a taste of what it means for God to be loving in Himself and to His people. Verses 3-14 goes on an exposition of the blessings that we receive in Christ. When we receive Christ, we receive everything. We receive adoption into a family, union with the Savior, the Spirit who sanctifies, and an unending fountain of grace. When was this decided? Before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Who decided this? God Himself (Eph 1:5). God chose and loved us before we ever came into existence. Not because we were cleaned up, not because we did enough good things, not even because we’re faithful members at a church and serve every Sunday. He loves His children simply because of His unchanging character and abundance of grace. This is bliss at its finest. But why would I start here? To show you that God is good and that He is trustworthy, even amidst a world with constant division and strife.
After reading that, you may be thinking “That's all good and dandy, but what about right now? What about all the pain and suffering that I go through everyday?”
And to that I would say, there’s hope. Hope because of a Savior who took on flesh, dwelled with His people, and bore the punishment for our sins to display His glory and love to the world. What better people than the Christian to stake a claim in this world with a truth as beautiful as the Gospel? I often run away because I forget this truth. I run away from conflict with friends, helping others, and speaking truth when needed because of fear. Fear of what others would think if I said something they didn’t like or that I would lose a friend in the process of saying what needs to be said. I would bet that many of you have experienced these same fears to some extent. But you and I can rest assured that Christ Himself is interceding on our behalf. One of the best illustrations I’ve heard that explains the present work of Christ was to imagine as if you could hear Jesus himself praying in the room right next to you. How would you feel? What kind of confidence and peace would that give to you? The illustration isn’t just a “what if,” it’s really happening. Jesus Christ is and has been interceding on our behalf long before we ever realized it or could even fathom it and will be even when we forget (Heb 7:25).
So Christian, here’s why you can be a person of courage, boldness, humility, and grace despite the constant turbulence we find ourselves in throughout our life.
God is good.
God is glorious.
God is love.
God redeems.
I’m fervently praying for everyone one of you who reads this that you may believe and fall in love with these truths. That God may become all the more real and tangible for you throughout all of your days.
Love ya friends and may this serve you well.