Time for Perspective

Time for Perspective allows us to take a step back, no regrets – just love!  Only when we see Jesus and our eternal reward for his sacrifice can we have no regrets – just love!  The love of Jesus.

Regrets Everywhere

In the previous chapter, Paul talked about some of the things that our sinful nature wants: “sexual immorality, impurity, complete lack of restraint, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things similar to these. I warn you, just as I also warned you before, that those who continue to do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

I Warn You

Paul says, “I warn you! These things are harming your soul!” But pick any sin out of that list, and you can see how we can easily excuse it in the moment, and be deceived about how serious it is. Sexual immorality—“What will one small glance hurt, lusting for someone I’m not married to. No lightning fell, no one saw, no one got hurt. It’s fine.” Outbursts of anger—“What, so I lost my temper once, everyone does sometimes, and they had it coming, what’s the big deal?” Heresies—“Oh, big deal, why are you so picky about false teachings? As long as I believe the basics, God won’t care.” Idolatry—I prioritize other things over God all the time, what’s the big deal if I don’t make worship a priority every day and weekend? My life is still going fine, God doesn’t mind.” Sorcery—“I just check my horoscope every day, it’s not a big deal, they’re very accurate, that doesn’t really count as witchcraft right? They’ve never led me into a false religion.” This can even be true for the seemingly big sins on the list, like murder. In this life, sometimes people literally get away with murder—so it must not matter. No regrets right!?

Mocking God

“Do not be deceived,” Paul says. “God cannot be mocked.” Who are we dealing with here? God! We might fool ourselves, but God is not a human who can be tricked or persuaded. He’s not a pushover, who says, “No big deal.” God is like the force of gravity. A fact. What comes up must come down. And if you jump up in sin, God’s judgment will come down in the end. Pick any one of those sins, even if they seem fine in the moment, they will bring destruction in the end. You can’t get away from them without regrets! “Indeed, the one who sows for his own sinful flesh will reap destruction from the sinful flesh.”

Want to hear more?  Watch this week’s message taken from Galatians 6, Time for Perspective.