4-22-19 Sin Repackaged


Sin Repackaged :: By Holly Spate


“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 3:6-7).
There are many who seemingly have absolutely no moral compass in our society. These individuals, many of whom are powerful, wealthy, and/or celebrity, are using their platforms to speak to whoever will listen in an attempt to sanitize and normalize that which is reprehensibly wrong. They are trying their best to change people’s perspectives and to repackage sin.
They celebrate it in the streets. They brag about it on their soapboxes. They make a mockery of morality. They belittle those who stand for decency and laugh at those who uphold righteous values. They threaten those who disagree while claiming tolerance. They are defiant in their stance and delight in their sins.
Yet, sin is sin. And sin will always be sin in the eyes of our Creator. It can’t be sanitized, changed, or packaged with a pretty bow. It can never be made different through new laws of acceptance or flowery words. It is not made right through attempting to normalize it or because someone popular says so. It is and will always be sin. And to every Christian, that’s how we have to look at it…in the eyes of truth – what God’s Word says – not what the world says.
Sin is sin…period!
Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Because of this truth, we know that He never changes. His laws, His Word, His ways, are still the same…yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. They are more than relevant; they are the LAW by which every believer must hold to, stand for and relentlessly defend.
We cannot rewrite them, misinterpret them, or disregard them. We must adhere to them wholeheartedly without excuse. We must never forget that God sees and knows all and that one day we will all stand before Him and give an account for every decision we each have made… that includes whether we obeyed His Word or not.
Many who try to normalize sin are wanting justification and permission to continue their own behavior. After all, if society changes its opinion and their sins become more accepted, maybe they won’t feel the conviction weighing as heavy on their hearts and minds.
Perhaps those who cry the loudest want others to join their camp so that they can get others to experience the same guilt and therefore have some company. Some foolishly just want a society without rules where anything goes, where utter chaos can ensue. And many are so steeped in their sin that they have unapologetically and defiantly shook their fist at their only source of true hope, Almighty God.
Because of this, we have seen crazy behavior occurring in our nation. Blind hatred has expanded, and intolerance of anything good and moral is no longer accepted by many. Civil communication, exchanging of ideas, and respecting another person’s point of view are no longer accepted practices with many. It appears there are those who have already been given over to a reprobate mind, with many to follow.
Romans 1:28-32 paints a clear picture of what can happen when people rebel and openly turn against God:
“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
As we see the utter chaos and evil that can pursue from engaging in willful depravity, we are to remember we’re never called to hate the sinner, but rather to love, help, bring hope, and pray for the ones who are being deceived.
Matthew 5:43-45 reminds us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
And while we’re loving our enemy, we must remember that we all have sinned and are only saved by God’s miraculous grace and mercy.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Friends, we are in a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 states: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Because of this, we must put on our spiritual armor and be ready to shine God’s light in the darkness. Part of shining His light is to remember we are commanded to love the sinner, but hate the sin and be tirelessly diligent in taking a stand against any normalization of sin through prayer, petition, voting, etc.
Although our nation seems to be spiraling out of control, we must never forget we have hope because we have Him! Our Almighty God is in control…hallelujah! His heart’s desire is for all to turn from sin, be saved and changed. He promises to bring His light to the darkest of places and to help all who call out to Him.
One day, all will be made right, moral, pure and perfect again. Evil will cease to exist and sin will be no more. But, until that glorious day comes, all believers are called to keep standing for righteousness and continue praying for those who have been blinded by sin and who willingly wear their sins like a badge of honor. God is great… there’s no one He can’t reach. Let’s put on our full armor and join Him.

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