What is ignored, is what has been done for us ...perhaps not seeing what is between. There is a bridge.
Sometimes we try to step out where there is no bridge.
Or we immediately turn to go the other way ...not acknowledging the other side at all.
Many people believe there is actually two sides, but there is not. Speaking of the absolute truth of something, there is only one truth. What we actually look at is a mirror ...and we see half of the way, and the other half is what is reflected back to where we stand. In essence, we see what we want to see.
Many of us don't want to look at how we reflect, so we turn around.
Many people believe the bridge is built by compromise and committee.
But the bridge is Jesus ...constructed of His character.
The two solid grounds of God's character is His love and His righteousness.
Some people stand solid on God's love, but ignore His righteousness. And some people stand on the other side of righteousness, forgetting how to walk in love.
A woman was about to be stoned when that bridge I mentioned appeared. She likely didn't even know of what was going to save her, but Jesus suspended everything by saying, "He who is without sin cast the first stone."
With all the righteous demands, they couldn't face true righteousness. And in being saved from certain death by true love, the woman knew she needed to accept the love by responding in a righteous way of repentance ...as Jesus told her, "Go, and sin no more."
And it'd be a good guess to think that she knew Jesus may not be standing there ...if she ignored the advice, and allowed another time. I imagine she happily took the advice of Jesus.
There is a much bigger danger that we don't see. And that is, we don't really see clearly what often happens when sin goes on ...unchecked, and without consequences.
What actually happens is ...that the sin is ignored, rationalized, denied, or covered over. There can be a diversion ...pointing the accusing finger elsewhere. And it's like a very prolific weed, growing quickly while unattended ...and other weeds appear.
We often look at sin from the perspective that we are forgiven of sin, but we are not immune to it. It can breed rapidly, and there are many mutations ...some of which grow unnoticed. Our sight can be blinded so we can't clearly see God's leading ...and it robs us of the wisdom that we can only have by coming to God in repentance.
It is good for a homeowner to forgive a thief for robbing his home, but what benefit has the thief gained if he accepts the forgiveness as he leaves with the money and jewelry.
The only thing the thief would gain is the money and jewelry ...and whatever false comfort he obtains from thinking perhaps he wasn't caught.
He deceives himself if he believes it is of no effect.
The more we refuse to acknowledge sin as sin ...we can become just like those whom we would have stood against, perhaps not investing our denial in the same area ...but robbing our spiritual account to make a payment for a debt of sin that cannot be met by turning away from Him who has already died on our account.
When sin enters in, it does no good to deny we are infected ...we need to deal with it, not spread the virus.
Spread His Word ...
It's no secret.
Some people stand solid on God's love, but ignore His righteousness. And some people stand on the other side of righteousness, forgetting how to walk in love.
A woman was about to be stoned when that bridge I mentioned appeared. She likely didn't even know of what was going to save her, but Jesus suspended everything by saying, "He who is without sin cast the first stone."
With all the righteous demands, they couldn't face true righteousness. And in being saved from certain death by true love, the woman knew she needed to accept the love by responding in a righteous way of repentance ...as Jesus told her, "Go, and sin no more."
And it'd be a good guess to think that she knew Jesus may not be standing there ...if she ignored the advice, and allowed another time. I imagine she happily took the advice of Jesus.
There is a much bigger danger that we don't see. And that is, we don't really see clearly what often happens when sin goes on ...unchecked, and without consequences.
What actually happens is ...that the sin is ignored, rationalized, denied, or covered over. There can be a diversion ...pointing the accusing finger elsewhere. And it's like a very prolific weed, growing quickly while unattended ...and other weeds appear.
We often look at sin from the perspective that we are forgiven of sin, but we are not immune to it. It can breed rapidly, and there are many mutations ...some of which grow unnoticed. Our sight can be blinded so we can't clearly see God's leading ...and it robs us of the wisdom that we can only have by coming to God in repentance.
It is good for a homeowner to forgive a thief for robbing his home, but what benefit has the thief gained if he accepts the forgiveness as he leaves with the money and jewelry.
The only thing the thief would gain is the money and jewelry ...and whatever false comfort he obtains from thinking perhaps he wasn't caught.
He deceives himself if he believes it is of no effect.
The more we refuse to acknowledge sin as sin ...we can become just like those whom we would have stood against, perhaps not investing our denial in the same area ...but robbing our spiritual account to make a payment for a debt of sin that cannot be met by turning away from Him who has already died on our account.
When sin enters in, it does no good to deny we are infected ...we need to deal with it, not spread the virus.
Spread His Word ...
It's no secret.
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