We can scare ourselves into insanity if we don’t get a hold of ourselves and shake the cobwebs off. It takes courage to live this life.”
–Ken Pratt (The Gypsum Creek Massacre)
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
–Acts 16:25 (NIV)
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Listen, get real! Quit using the excuse when you sin, “I’m only human.” If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. Yes, we are all human. We all make mistakes, pursue bad decisions, and fall into sin and the reason is that we are human. But don’t use that as an excuse, just know it as a fact. Then, do something about it.
If, and when, we sin we do not lose our salvation, know that for a fact, but as Francis Schaeffer puts it, “we do have separation from my Father in the parent-child relationship.” There is an estrangement from the Father; we remember what we had and now sin has brought tension, strife, perhaps turmoil to our relationship. It must be taken care of as soon as possible. I have often thought of Adam as he was walking out of the Garden. Stepping out, he stopped, looked back to see the cherubim take their posts with flaming swords to guard the entrance to make it impossible for Adam to get back in. There was no way back in, there was no way for Adam to have the same relationship with a holy Father. Gone were the days when he could walk in the Garden with God. Paradise lost–indeed, Adam and Eve were no longer welcome in the presence of a holy God.
Woe is mankind, woe is me. But wait! John writes to believers, to those who have accepted the redeeming grace of Jesus that relationship can be restored. The way is to admit that we have sinned. It cannot be excused, it cannot be blamed on someone or something else. We must not say, “I’m only human,” or “I’m not perfect,” but go to God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV) Relationship is now restored; God walks with us.
Let me say this. In the midst of suffering and sorrow; when we have given into sin–repent, try again, and do not stop rejoicing at any time. Read the Psalms. In David’s woes, trials, battles, and sin did he stop playing his harp at any time? Philip Comfort reminds us that, “We too can stop in the midst of life’s tumult and disappointment and offer this prayer: ‘Come, thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.'” Think of the times that Paul tells us to rejoice, rejoice. We are not like Adam, the relationship can be restored. Continue to praise and rejoice as you repent and know–know that the Father is there.
“No ear so dull, no soul so cold,
That felt not, friend not to the tone,
Till David’s lyre grew mightier than his throne!”
–Lord Byron
Let 2026 be known as a year of rejoicing in the Lord! No matter the situation, no matter the circumstance, no matter the storm, no matter the battle–rejoice in the Lord!