"See you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you---(John 5:14)
Sometimes people say they hate going to church because the church makes them feel guilty. But people don't feel bad because a preacher tells them to. They feel bad on their own. God has created us to be like Him, and when we miss the mark, a negative effect happens in our souls. When we sin, we feel frustrated. Guilty. Ashamed.
The fruit in the garden of Eden was forbidden, and our first parents felt they were losing something. They ate and the fruit tasted good for one brief moment. When they realized they were naked they felt guilty. The feeling of loss came back and this time they lost their relationship with God. They felt some sort of loss. Experiencing some kind of trouble, misery compounded by shame. They were worse than before.
The tactic of the devil is to whisper counterfeit to you. He says, "See the fruit. Take the fruit. The fruit looks good, doesn't it? God has been denying you this fruit. I promise you, if you eat this fruit, this is going to solve your problem". But as soon as they ate, the enemy changed roles. He shifted from being the enticer and promiser to becoming the accuser and the condemner.
As the accuser and condemner he now says, "You really messed up this time. You are hopeless. You are a complete failure. You are so far gone, you will never get back. Let's watch and replay of what you just did, okay? It's hilarious because you are so pathetic. You have no more value. You are finished".
The enemy who once enticed us with a promise is now crushing us with an accusation. Instead of resisting and fleeing away from him, we tend to give him a seat at our table. Do not listen to the devil. The Bible says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness ( 1 John 1:9).
To God be the glory.
Rev B Chinhara.
No comments:
Write comments