“7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” ~ Galatians 6:7-10, NJKV, P.1124
There are many things in our lives which become confusing and scary. They overwhelm our minds and if allowed shake us right down to our immortal soul. In these moments we often times seek out advise from friends, relatives, neighbors, and spouses. In some instances these trusted few, (most often those whom we love the most), instruct us what we need to do. There advise can be seen as applying pressure so as the outcome fits more into their frame of reference, or more to their design, (whether intended or not), but the outcome rarely be it intentional or by accident is acceptable as there is always consequences. Parents do this to their children, friends do this to other friends, and classmates do this to their other classmates. This peer-pressure can become scary in-and-of-itself. But we often times also place a great amount of pressure upon ourselves in difficult, confusing times, as we become all worked up over an issue and before we realize it have over thought the problem, cause it to become three times worse than what it really was in the beginning. Often times we are warned of the outcome, and yet we commit the act anyway. Therefore, we are as Christians have been placed on notice, we have been told of the actions God does not want us to commit, key among then was given to us by Jesus Christ when asked by Pharisees which commandment is to be kept,
“18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness. 19 You shall honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself” ~ Matthew 19:18-19, NJKV, P.954-955.
In direct view of God we must understand how much importance is placed upon the word, “TRUTH”. For truth is our very relationship to God the Father, through Jesus Christ our savior. God and Jesus is found within the Bible placing extraordinary emphasis on telling the truth, most notably by Jesus before the Roman Governor Pilate;
“37 Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” ~John 18:37, NJKV, P.1047.
Jesus also places truth of his character, which we all as Christians should try to emulate as he states quite clearly;
“6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me you would have known the Father also and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” ~ John 15:6-7, NJKV, P.1042-1043.
Therefore, the consequences are clear, if you commit murder, there will be guilt. If you commit adultery then too will there be guilt, and the same goes for stealing, and thus convicted by truth. However, these crimes against God are forgivable no matter how hanse. For Jesus forgave a murder on the cross, he forgave Mary Magdalene who committed adultery and told her to sin no more, and he forgave those who stole. But there are special crimes against God that if committed God will take his time in making you feel guilty over, and these crimes carry special punishments. Jesus mentions one which is, “You shall not bear false witness.” It is no accident that this is also found in Exodus 20:16, and is the ninth commandment from God to Moses. According to Jesus to commit this crime against God makes your heart unclean, and thus unfit to claim eternal life. Bearing false witness is a grieves sin, one which is done from selfish motivations. It is a refusal to be obedient to God and often times places those whom you accused falsely into extraordinary circumstances where punishment was dealt unjustly. In this the crime becomes compounded and the sin debt grows ten fold. Punishment extends beyond feelings of guilt, as the emotional sin debt is forever burned into the memory, haunting the sinner as if it where a plague. Small things can trigger guilt, a passing word from a friend or stranger, a flashback incurred by a picture or by being in the same place as the sin was committed, to the realization of loss when the person whom was hurt no longer responds by phone, letters, and or emails all which have been ignored. It is a sin that cannot be easily forgotten or forgiven, and ironically is the one sin which could have been easily prevented by simply telling the truth.
Jesus continues his list with honoring your parents. This for some children, and even some adults find difficult because the parent was either not ever present, or was pushed away by the dominate parent. In two parent households children often struggle to love and honor both parents as each relationship is both individual and linked to the amount of support provided within the family unit. One parent plays the role of disciplinarian and the other is passive, and children will generally gravitate towards the passive parent. However, in some extraordinary circumstances children will become closer with the disciplinarian if this parent uses fear, force, or threatens to take the love for the child away, thus basing each request upon conditions that at any moment that parents love could be called into question. In these relationships children will say anything not to lose the love of their parent, or parents. Be not deceived, for the sins sowed will be the sins reaped.
“Love your neighbor as yourself”, is also a special commandment as this is linked directly to Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. For in doing this the heart becomes pure, as selfish motivations become less important. Living for God becomes the dominate thoughts and actions and therefore reap the most rewards in heaven.
Challenge Questions: If your feeling guilty for a sin you committed is it wise to admit it, ask for God to forgive you, or should you lie about it and get others into serious trouble?
Amen
If you have been moved by this blog I urge you to continue to come back and become a subscriber. Please do not forget to also visit us at http://listeningfaithfully.org.
May God bless you and keep you all the days of your life. Amen
Please Donate to Listening Faithfully and help spread he words of God around the world.
You can also visit us at: Listeningfaithfully.org
Please help support Listening Faithfully!Give