Sins in Your World 
 
It's 3 o'clock on a Sunday morning and somewhere in the neighbourhood someone has turned a boom-box up so loud that a large area is being flooded with noise - music of that someone's choice. 
 
Lying in bed, it was realised that this event was a starting point for a teaching on sin as it affects us Christians and how we should deal with it as it occurs on a daily basis. 
 
Without Christ I Am Nothing = Christian. If this is how you truly feel then the following will be of importance to you because you will want to please your Master, the one who has saved you from the wrath to come. 
You have crossed the threshold from death to life by passing through the very restricting gate of Spiritual rebirth1; you have passed under and risen out of the physical waters of baptism as your Master did before you, and have received the Holy Spirit of God to guide you as your Master did before you. 
All your previous sins were removed off the balance sheet bearing your name at the time of your conversion and God the Father will remember them no more. You are counted as innocent as a newborn baby. 
 
Then comes the first steps of the walk on the narrow path. 
How well do you keep to it? 
How clean are your feet? 
 
By now, by having read through the writings on this web site2 you will know the difference between inadvertent sin that we all commit on a daily basis because of our sin nature (thanks to Adam), and willing sin that destroys our souls. 
And who wants their soul destroyed?
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 
(Revelation 21:6-8)
 
Who, in this violent country that we live in is not fearful of losing his possessions or his very life? 
We won't go into this one at present, see if you can work through it yourself. 
 
Let's rather go back to the event of the boom-box that started this adventure. 
 
Let us presume that I am the one who is playing loud music through the night because I like loud music. I'm having a party and you can join in if you bring your own booze - the music is for free. 
I didn't think to confer with you who are my neighbour and in any case I wouldn't have put the party off. I have my rights you know! 
You however, have a long distance to travel in the morning and need to sleep so that you can remain awake behind the wheel. 
You are a professing Christian. What would you do? 
  1. Go to your neighbour and ask him please to stop disturbing you, explaining that you have planned to drive a long way, starting at dawn. 
  2. Well, you are so tired now that in any case you shall have to cancel the trip until you are refreshed by sleep, so you lie awake until the noise stops, and an hour or so later put your own boom-box as close to his window as possible and crank up the volume. (Many years ago it was reported that a feud was started in this way in a village in the Karoo). 
  3. You call the police or go to the Police Station and lay a charge of disturbing the peace. 
  4. You do nothing now, but determine to tell your neighbour in a Christian way how you and yours suffered as a result of his selfishness. This may even be an opportunity to tell him about your wonderful Master. Your example impresses me and I determine not to repeat a party like that again. We remain on good terms. 
 
Saul of Tarsus lived righteously as he was brought up and yet determined to persecute Christians. Then he met the Living Christ Jesus on the road to Damascus and became as a different person - obedient to his Lord above all else. 
 
We are called to obedience to our Master's wishes, with the resultant blessings of His Presence continually in our lives. 
What a feeling of ecstasy and gratefulness when the Loving Living God manifests His supernatural, life changing Presence in our day to day living when we do His will above our own. 
 
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 
(Romans 14:17-18)
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 
(Daniel 12:1-3)
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 
(Acts 20:18-24)
 
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 
(Acts 20:32) 
 
 
1 Heart of the Gospel 
2 www.hosanna.org.za