Forgiveness is our Choice

It is written in John 3:36 "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

In knowing the truth of that statement I'm quite sure that it's safe to assume that the man who brought carnage to the City of Binghamton yesterday won't be among those who will gather with the angels and eternally sing heavenly praises to the Lord.

But wait a minute, what about the truth that says we serve a forgiving God? Oh, you say, this man was full of darkness and death, his sins are so grave that surely God will judge him guilty and forgiveness will not come. Because of the choices this man made in his life 'God's wrath remains on him'.

From everything I've read thus far I believe that I would have to agree with that assessment . . . but as I consider the fact that in God's sight . . . sin is sin . . . instantly I feel true conviction come over me to now look at my own life and consider whether or not I hold on to choices that would obligate God to pour his wrath out upon me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a good person. I go to church, I humbly serve God and His people. I love those around me (well, most of them), I'm honest (well, most of the time). I follow the teachings that Jesus gave us (well, nearly all of them). But listen, I know that God is a forgiving God - surely the Lord's judgement of me will be much different than this man's. His sins are much worse than mine.

Again I consider the fact that in God's sight . . . sin is sin, is sin, is sin.

Consider what Christ Himself said to the woman who was judged by those around her to be sinful and worthy of stoning (wrath) - "go and sin no more". Through His mercy Christ forgave her of the sin she committed and saved her from being stoned - but if you recall, that wasn't the end of the story, for after forgiving her, He added the command that instructed her to "go and sin no more."

It's true, we all have the FINAL say in His forgiveness . . . our choices - just like those of that man yesterday in Binghamton - will bring us life forever with Christ or it will bring us eternal separation from Him.

Father God, we know that Your Word tells us that you are a just God. In Your powerful name, Jesus, we ask that you help us, Lord, to have a full understanding of that truth so that we are willing to 'go and sin no more'.

Amen and Amen
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