It is a law of physics that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is true for the physical world and the same truth applies to the spiritual world as well. We call it the law of reciprocity. When one sins they will receive judgement. When one is obedient, they will receive blessings.
In today’s world, people have grown comfortable with denying that there are any consequences for which they will be held accountable. Everything is so “relative” in these times that the word “consequences” has lost its meaning in the minds of people. It only takes a cursory glance at society today to see that many people are blind to the fact that the crime they are about to commit or action they are about to take will ever wind up at their doorstep. It seems that no matter how much Gospel has been preached and no matter how much people are told of the principles in God’s Word, they act as if there is nothing awaiting them on the other side of their action. Nothing could be farther from the truth and people usually find that out sooner or later and it ain’t fun to find it out!
More from Rev. Bill Harrell: The Cross and a GE Clock
There is no such thing as a “secret” sin because of this law of reciprocity. No matter how small we think a sin is we must understand that someday in some way there will be an equal and opposite reaction to it. When that reaction is made known then the sin which caused it will become exposed. So, the old Biblical admonition….”be sure your sins will find you out” (Numbers 32:23) is founded upon three things: God’s all-knowing nature; the fact that sin violates His Holiness and the exercise of this law of equal and opposite reaction.
If one wants to know the real serious nature of the “small” little innocuous sin they committed, then they should not look at what they consider the “little” sin. It might not have been painful to commit it. It might even have seemed the “thing to do” under the circumstances. But if they want to know the serious nature of it in God’s eyes then they should look at the consequences. Remember our law of physics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When that reaction is experienced and is serious and consequential then one can get a good idea of how serious the “little” sin really was to God. Based on the law of reciprocity, it will be revealed, and this is true for everyone whether they believe it or not.
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The real lesson is that there is no “little” sin to God. They are all big and serious because of His Holy nature. The consequences will be big even though we thought our “little” sin would do no harm. His Holy nature is at the center of all of this. He is so Holy that even the most innocuous “little” sin is serious business and will elicit a strong response if not forgiven through the Blood of Jesus. How serious was the sin to God? Just take a look at the consequences in order to get a good idea of that “little” sin’s magnitude. Like an echo, it keeps reverberating and each reverberation becomes more complicated and entangled as the “little” sin’s consequences grow ever larger. Even though forgiven, the consequences must be lived out here in history and the “inconsequential little sin” becomes a major factor in one’s life.
God’s Holiness is terribly misunderstood by many, many people. They will agree that God is a GOOD God. But He is much more than merely good. He is HOLY! What does this holiness mean? It means that He cannot tolerate even one microbe of sin in His presence. So small sins carry a big weight because they violate God’s holiness. But, He is merciful to those who are saved by the blood of Jesus. While there might be a huge mess resulting from the sin that we have to live through, we can know for sure that Jesus provides the way of forgiveness.
More from Rev. Bill Harrell: Swift Retribution
I am so very glad that God judges us and not man. God deals with us in mercy and grace. Man will deal with each other in a cruel and merciless way, but God deals with His Children in a totally different manner. Trusting Jesus for salvation of one’s soul is the only way to survive.
Reverend William (Bill) Harrell has been in ministry 48 years. He served as the pastor of Abilene Baptist Church in Martinez, GA for over 30 of those years. He can be reached at wfh@williamfharrell.com. You can also check out his blog at www.williamfharrell.com.
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