Close your eyes and imagine. Imagine a world WITHOUT JESUS. Imagine that you are going to HELL unless you can make up for your sins. What will it take?
What does it take to please God?
Micah suggests several answers:
“Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body to pay for my sin?” Micah 6:6-7.
Of course, none of these would ever be enough. You could sacrifice thousands of rams and give your firstborn child, but God would still not forgive you.
Sometimes it is valuable to consider the seriousness of sin. Bachelor and bachelorette parties are on my mind today. Could there be an event more perfectly designed to destroy a marriage? I have personal knowledge (but was not there) of parties involving grooms sleeping with hired prostitutes, and male “dancers” forcing themselves on drunk women. The whole idea—the justification—is to “de-flower” the bride and groom before the wedding, as if that will make them more faithful. Of course, that never works. You don’t beat gluttony by overeating. And you don’t defeat lust by being lustful. All you have accomplished is sin, heartache, and regret. Such events are an abomination to a GOD WHO IS HOLY.
Stop and think about that: GOD IS HOLY. What are we doing? Why are we swimming in this sea of sin? Why do we laugh and make movies about it and tell ourselves it’s no big deal?
If it matters to God, then IT MATTERS. Sin is a BIG DEAL. If you can’t see that, imagine trying to earn forgiveness. If you could afford to sacrifice ten thousand rams, it would not be enough.
If we loved Jesus, we would beg Him to help us do better.
God, humble us before your staggering HOLINESS.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 