Dealing With Sin

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, there were many battles before them. They had to rely on God to bring them through step by step as they obeyed His commands. Today however, we approach our Promised Land from a “done” perspective. Jesus Christ has already won the victory on our behalf. All we have to do is appropriate the blessing. But what happens when we fall on the way to the Promised Land?

Most often we sin because we don’t trust God to bring the answer we want when we want it. So we fall into temptation by moving ahead of God to meet our need in a way we decide is appropriate and fulfilling. But what we don’t realize is that God’s provision, though it requires great patience to wait for it, will satisfy the need rather than offer a quick, convenient and temporary fix. In fact, it is not the provision itself that truly fulfills the need, but the Provider Himself.

If you have taken the easy road instead of waiting on God, you have an Advocate in Jesus Christ. He bore your sin and shame on the cross, so there is no need to beat yourself up or allow others to condemn you. Isaiah 53 states that Jesus Christ was wounded for your transgressions and he was bruised for your iniquities. He paid the price so you would not have to. Allow the conviction of the Holy Spirit to work repentance in your heart. Then simply move forward, trusting God to meet your needs His way and in His timing, not yours.

God’s people in the Bible messed up along the way, but it’s important to remember that God is faithful even when we are not. The grace of God is all about receiving what you could never earn and do not deserve. Make the decision today to turn from your sin, enter His rest and receive the Promise according to His grace. If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move forward. Psalm 37 says that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. Even though he may fall, God will uphold him. Be encouraged to finish the race. The only way you will lose is if you don’t get up again. And when you keep running the race, you may even have the opportunity to help someone else who has fallen along the way.