The wonderful thing about our God is that he always had a āwork-aroundā for sin. His work-around is one perfect atoning sacrifice for my sin and the sin of the world.
Iām pretty careful these days with the word sin in any instance except in the case of my own. Iāve noticed that we humans are very good at confessing someone elseās sin, and quite offended when someone confesses our own for us. I know we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but I canāt see into your heart and know how God is prioritizing which of your sins to work on.
Moses could see the sin of the people who were so fearful waiting for him to come back from Godās presence on Mt. Sinai that they chose a golden idol to worship. He was completely unaware of his own propensity for impatience, as he would demonstrate in the wilderness when he struck the rock for water instead of just issuing the command the way God had instructed. To be fair to Moses, the sin of idol worship by the Israelites was egregious while Mosesā transgression was much more subtle. But the point is that all sin excludes us from Godās ideal and perfect plan. āAsk Nebuchadnezzar, who lost his mind because he refused to deal with his pride. Ask Samson, who was reduced to a pathetic shred of a man because he never got control over the lusts of his flesh. Ask Achan and Ananias and Sapphira, who all lost their lives over āsmall,ā secret sins.ā (Nancy Leigh DeMoss)
At least Moses wanted to atone for his peopleās rebellion. But God said that they would have to take their own punishment. I wouldnāt have made the offer that Moses did when he said to God, āIf You will, forgive their sināand if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written.ā (Exodus 32:32)
Oh, but I do! When I stay awake at night fretting and thinking of how I can āfixā my friendsā, my childās, my relativesā problems, I am trying to play the Holy Spirit in their lives. That role is really far above my pay-grade. What I can do is pray and throw myself and everyone I love on the mercy of a very patient God, and his āwork-aroundā plan: one sacrifice, once and for all, for all the sins of the world, in Jesusā death on the cross.
If you tend to think that God isnāt doing enough, soon enough about the sin of the world around you, remember these words: āThe Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.ā (2 Peter 3:9)
And look to your own heart, sinner. Donāt be the Pharisee saying, āThank you that Iām not like those others.ā Say, like the tax collector, āGod, be merciful to me, a sinner.ā
Love, Liz