LifeLink Devotions for Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Yesterday we were motivated to take steps of faith by the story of several tribes being awarded comfortable land yet joining the other tribes is helping them conquer their land. There is another lesson for us to learn from this story about sin and its consequences. The two-and-a-half tribes had made a commitment years before that they would be united with all the other tribes in entering the Promised Land. Moses reminded them of that commitment and warned them that if they reneged on it they would be sinning, and they would not get away with it.  Moses says these often quoted words, “You may be sure that your sin will find you out.” All sin has consequences, and all sin must be answered for, whether in this life or when we stand before God in person.

We have all done things that we hope will never be exposed. We have lied and lusted, cheated and coveted, hurt and hated. We have committed spiritual adultery by worshipping the gods of money, friendships, social status and power.  If others only knew what we have really done they would be shocked, and the fortified city of our self-righteous life would be destroyed, and we would be left with nothing.

I call on the church of Jesus Christ to become people of integrity, living holy lives honoring to God, knowing that every sin will be exposed before His holy throne. Yes, the consequence of death for sin has been removed for those who are saved, but the consequence of shame has not been removed. The Apostle John says, “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:28) When He returns, our lives will be reviewed in their entirety since the time of our salvation, and we will suffer loss for those things that did not honor God. All decisions and actions coming from self-serving motives will be exposed and burned, and all rewards we had hoped for in those times will be lost. Read carefully these words from the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

Take to heart the warning of Moses, and the next time you are tempted back away from your commitment to Christ and choose to sin, remember – you won’t get away with it because God’s love won’t permit you to live beneath your privilege.

Pastor John