You Did it Again. . .

You did it again; even after trying your best not to give in, you did. You sinned just like every other time. You’ve been struggling with THAT SIN for as long as you can remember, and you just feel like you’ll never beat it. You’ll never win.


How many of us have ever been in this situation? Well let me just tell you this: If you haven’t, you will. I’m sorry to be the bad guy, but every single Christian on this Earth has been discouraged at some point, and you will be no different. Now the reason that I’m writing this isn’t to scare you, but to help you when you get discouraged.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16 (NIV)

Well, let’s look at King David. Let’s see…he was a human being, who committed murder and adultery while holding the position of King and was expected by God to be a Spiritual leader for God’s people. That’s pretty hard to do when you’re caught up in sin! (This is an example of fulfilling the lust of the flesh!)  (2 Sam. 11, 12)


What about Abraham? He had Sarah tell the Pharaoh that she was his sister. In Abraham’s eyes, he was trying to save his own life because he thought that the Pharaoh might kill him to have Sarah as his wife.  Instead of trusting God with the situation, Abraham chose to sin. (This is an example of the pride of life!)  (Gen. 12:10-17)


What about the Apostle Peter? He denied that he was a follower of Christ. He had told Jesus that he would never deny him, and that he would die before he did (Matt. 26:35), but he broke under pressure. He just wanted to go with the crowd, so that he wouldn’t look bad. Ultimately, he cared more about what other people thought of him then what Christ expected of him. (That seems to be a pretty good example of loving the world, huh?)  (Mark 14:66-72)


So what’s my point in telling you that these guys messed up? Well, stop and think. How do you know the names of these guys? Oh…they’re heroes of the Bible, aren’t they? That’s right! King David sinned, and his sin was an abomination to God, but the Bible calls him a “man after God’s own heart!” (Acts 13:22) I tell ya, you have to be a pretty strong Christian to be compared to the heart of God! David was a man who put God first in everything, and when he sinned and messed up, he acknowledged his sin and asked for God's forgiveness! (Psalm 32)


Abraham sinned against God, but God fulfilled his promise of making Abraham the “Father of a Great Nation” (Gen. 12:2) because Abraham lived by faith. At the words of God ALONE, he moved everything to where God told him. He had unrestrained faith. He believed that God was true to his word and lived in light of that. Abraham lived by FAITH. (Heb. 11:8)


The Apostle Peter sinned against Christ by denying him and so showing unbelief, but after he sinned, he realized what he did and wept “bitterly” This word is used to represent the pain that came with his crying. This wasn’t just a emotion driven show of his “remorse”, but was a physical manifestation of his intense love of Christ and how he felt when he hurt his Master. Peter loved Christ. (Mark 14:66-72) As a matter of fact, just look at the name Jesus gave him. “Peter” means “the rock!” Jesus knew, in all his sovereignty, that Peter would be worthy of the name of “the rock”, because of his love for Christ, and his powerful example of love NOT only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles! (Demonstrated on the Day of Pentecost) (Acts 2)  I don’t know about anyone else, but I would’ve liked to hear him preach!


Okay, so these guys sinned, but are considered great heroes of the Bible.  How do their examples help me today?


You are a sinner. I am a sinner. David was a sinner. Abraham was a sinner. Peter was a sinner. But JESUS was not a sinner!  He lived a perfect life and paid the penalty for your sin and my sin on the cross of Calvary! At the moment your heart cried out for Jesus to save you, God took the perfect life of Jesus and “credited” it to your account, while at the same time taking your sin and “nailing it to Christ’s cross”(Col. 2:14). This means that every sin you’ve ever committed and every sin you will ever commit has already been paid for. Jesus was punished instead of you!


So, let me tie it all together. You sinned AGAIN, but Jesus DIED for that sin and you are already forgiven! Simply acknowledge that you sinned, and thank Jesus for his completed work on the cross! (1 John 1:9)

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:5 (NIV)

So, how is that supposed to help?


Well, a lot of times, we take it upon ourselves to stop sinning, because we’ve been convicted. So we tell ourselves, “I will not give in!” and we forget to put God in the picture!


But what about those of you that HAVE asked God to help you? Are you reading and MEDITATING on God’s Word as often as you have a spare moment? What is in all of your thoughts? Is it that special someone you like? Is it about how you’re going to pull through on next hour’s test? Is it how you’re going to get the next promotion at work? Or is it Christ’s work on the cross and the great love of God? Are you praying for your enemies? Are you feeding your mind with immorality or are you feeding it with the Words of your Creator? Is Christ your first love?


It is impossible to be a “perfect person”, but if you have been saved, you are a “person MADE perfect in the eyes of the Father by the blood of Christ”!

First Post by J.A.T. 

(High School Freshman)