“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT)
We make our choices, then our choices make us! Everything we do, for good or ill, has a corresponding consequence. A consequence is a result or outcome, whether it’s good or bad depends on its cause. It’s a universal law of nature – cause and effect – that states that every effect is the direct outcome of a specific cause.
In the beginning God set in motion the laws that now govern the universe, including the laws to which we are subject as human beings – i.e. the law of gravity, cause and effect, etc. Additionally, there are spiritual laws that serve as the perimeters or boundaries in which we honor and please God, but outside of which we dishonor and violate, not only His law, but His Person.
To disregard what God says is to disregard His authority. Throughout the Bible and illustrated vividly throughout human history, we see man’s attempts to make better choices for themselves than they believe God can make. And because we have free will, God will never step in and make us obey Him.
Sin is a choice that carries a death penalty, not only after we die, but during the time we take up space on the earth. Jesus is the Author of life, seen clearly in the words of John in 1 John 5:11: “And this is what God has testified. He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”
The decisions we make from day to day typically follow the system of belief we have established for ourselves. If my goal is to please and honor God, by His grace and with His help, I will establish godly habits such as daily Bible reading/study, prayer, church attendance, treating others with respect and kindness, etc.
If my lifestyle is not based on Biblical criteria, I will often follow the lifestyles of those whose opinions I most respect or admire. If my family of origin valued education, had a strong work ethic, paid their bills on time, treated others respectfully, etc., that’s likely how I will order my life. There are many morally upright people who don’t follow Jesus, who, from all outward appearances, live good, honest lives.
So, what’s the problem? Because they don’t sin in obvious ways doesn’t make them any less separated from God than someone who does. The Pharisee in the Temple thanking God that he wasn’t like the sinful “tax collector” is further from God than the humble man begging God for mercy.
As I’ve often said, “sin is sin,” so it doesn’t matter if it’s gross, outward sin, or gross inward sin, it still has the same death penalty. God doesn’t grade on the curve – “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) We’re either lost or saved in God’s estimate, and His is the only one that matters.
We like to think of people who are “so close” to being saved, or “those who are too far gone!” But it’s like scoring a touchdown in football, you’re either in the endzone or you’re not. We choose Christ or reject Him, and our life choices will reflect which decision we’ve made.
I implore you, if you don’t know with certainty that you’ve asked Christ for forgiveness and are seeking everyday to walk in that victory, please, click on this link to Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge Illustration. Make the choice today to have your sins forgiven and choose to walk in newness of life only Christ can give you.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 