The Wages of Sin
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 ESV)
On Monday morning America witnessed another senseless attack on a school, this time in Nashville. The lives of three children and three adults were taken. Many more injured. Outrage, heartache, while thoughts and prayers abound.
For a few days many will ask why? Many will come out of the woodwork decrying guns and demanding strict gun control. However, I predict that by the end of the week, with baseball back and the Final Four, we will have moved on.
Will anything change? What should change?
Each one of us needs to look at the society we live in. The things we celebrate, tolerate, and encourage.
What no one wants to talk about is the fact we are the most medicated country in the world. CDC data from 2019 shows 48.6% of Americans had taken at least one prescription medicine in the last 30 days. 12.8% have taken more than five. Now add to this ever-present alcohol abuse, the legalization of recreational marijuana, opioid/fentanyl addictions, along with other illegal drug use, the effects of media saturation, not to mention social media. Add to this volatile cocktail the growing confusion over gender and human sexuality. Bodies mutilated and pumped full of hormones.
We barely even need to mention racial discord, political unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic that have reshaped the last several years.
This is God’s judgment on us, America. He is giving us what we want because it is clear what we don’t want Him. We want to be free to do what we want. We want to be high, and we want to be numb. We want to be famous and be seen by the world, yet we live in practical isolation watching the world go by 24x7. Boys want to be girls and girls want to be boys. Some want to be cats.
We want to live out our own truth. Mental illness runs rampant. We are ticking time-bombs.
We are in an open rebellion against a Holy God and his creation.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:18–25 ESV)
So, what do we do? Repent. See your rebellion against God. Turn from your sin and believe the Good News. Jesus Christ came to save rebel sinners like you and me. No one has lived a life of perfect obedience except his one and only Son. He offers his perfect life and death in exchange for your sinful life. Christ offers you a new life and a new, eternal family where you can be truly known and loved.
And before you say I’m being Pollyanna; the road ahead isn’t perfect in Christ. In this life there will still be heartache and pain. Change will often be slow, but the promises are yes and amen in Christ. You will find ultimate healing in Him. Your deepest needs will be met in Him. You will find your true self in Him.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV)
The time is now America, turn to God. Find a good church this Sunday. Go, listen, ask questions, hear the Word of God, repent, and believe!