Good Gone Bad

Romans 3:21-26 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Pastor Kyle continued through his Sunday sermon series on the book of Genesis, and he reminded us that one of the times which we are most vulnerable to spiritual attack is during or just after a significant ministry victory. This fact is not new, as the Bible, which shows the depth of human depravity attests. Nobody is perfect, except for the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is that? Two reasons: (1) Jesus (who is God incarnate) said in Mark 10:18: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” and (2) because man is not the hero of this story; God is. History is His story. Two things I know for sure: (1) there is a God and (2) I am not Him. Could you imagine if prideful, sinful man was in charge? In their greed and lust for power, position and prosperity, some make a bad situation worse by exposing others behavioral failures and shortcomings in order to advance their self. But, deeds done in darkness shall be revealed with consequences.

Luke 8:17 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”

Kyle mentions how all the Patriarchs of the Bible demonstrated their human flaws and imperfections. In Genesis 9:20-21, after the worldwide flood destroyed the world, Noah plants a vineyard, makes wine, drink until drunk while naked. Getting intoxicated is not God’s desire because substances are not to control or influence us, God is at all times. Any item outside of the Holy Spirit can lead to sin and their associated pitfalls. Even though a secular state may vote to legalize mind-altering substances for recreational use, Christians should live by a higher calling and steer clear of such vices and walk obediently in the Spirit. Everyone has sin they hope to keep hidden, but when we appear at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), the books are opened and all are judged by Jesus according to their works on earth. Every secret will be revealed. “Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Sin must be paid for.

But, everyone is offered redemption for bad choices made on this side of Heaven in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:6 tells us: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Good gone bad can go good again.

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

In Christ, Brian