Distance
“It makes us feel farther away from God”
This summer, I’ve been helping teach Sunday school for 3rd and 4th (and sometimes 6th) graders. As a follow up to our lesson, today I asked them “What is the consequence of sin?” As expected, i heard expected answers like ‘you get punished’, ‘you go to hell’, and ‘you go to jail/get in trouble’. But then I was quite surprised when one kid, who i mis-judged as not being all that bright, perked up with this response: “It makes us feel farther away from God.” Pretty good theology for a 6th grader.
Sin separates us from God.
I feel that’s sometimes difficult to remember as born-again believers. We understand how sin separates those who have not accepted the blood of Christ, but surely sin is irrelevant for those whom God has paid the price? But while it is true that there is no sin great enough to nullify the saving work of Christ and remove our gift of salvation, sin is far from irrelevant to the believer. Even within an established personal relationship, it creates distance. Habitual sin that is left hidden and unresolved has a way of hardening our hearts toward His voice and choking out intimacy with a holy God.
Lately I’ve been struggling with thinking about sex a lot more.
With a Summer spike in media exposure, I feel that I’ve been especially tempted by the world’s idea/presentation of sex - pleasure without rules or boundaries. I became increasingly nagged by doubts in my lifestyle choices - that my convictions and beliefs about sex as a Christ follower may be causing me to miss out on something golden.
Where are you God?
I couldn’t help but to feel a bit burdened and weak. I decided to do my routine devotional. The heaviness grew worse. I had planned to get a lot done that night, but the feeling had become debilitating. I couldn’t help but feel as if a cloud had come between the Lord and my soul. As I spent the rest of the night praying and listening to sermons, though it was good, I couldn’t help but to still feel an unpleasant sense of distance.
God preceded his presence with his truth
As my mind fumbled over and over my cleaver student’s one-liner, it suddenly hit me: It was my sin that was hindering me from enjoying close fellowship with Yahweh. How could I expect to feel close intimacy and peace with God’s presence when my heart wasn’t at peace with his ordinances and plans, especially concerning sex. How could I expect to have his spirit satisfy me when I had allowed myself to become dissatisfied with his ways and teaching? At that moment, it was as if God was saying to me, “If you want to draw near - if you want to feel my gentle whisper on your cold heart again - let’s start by addressing this. Let’s resolve what is unresolved. Let’s begin with repentance.”
“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.” - Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV
“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 NIV
