It has been 10 years since I posted a blog. It occurs to me that I need to post something every day. It doesn't take long and it is cathartic. I just might say something that would improve someones life. At the very least it will give me a way to track my thoughts. So here goes!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about my relationship with the Lord. It occurs to me that I have taken the Lord for granted for a long time. My prayer life is waning, my study time is shortened, and my inefffectiveness is on the rise. Why would I allow this situation to happen?

It is called feeling sorry for yourself. It is doing what I don't want to do. Paul says that he is a wretched man. He says this because he knows what he thinks and does that which does not measure up to the life the Lord calls us to live. It is being self absorbed and not recognizing  how wretched we are compared to the perfection of the Lord. We look at other people and conclude that we are better than they. Our situation doesn't seem to be as bad as their situation. We conclude that our sins are not as bad as those around us. As a matter of fact, we often dont think we sin at all. That is a tragic mistake. 

Some preachers stand in the pulpit beleving that once a  person becomes a believer they no longer sin. That is far from the truth. Jesus forgives our sin and defeats the power of sin so that we don't have to sin. Prior to becommg a believer we could do nothing but sin. But upon receiving Christ in our life, we are no longer slaves to sin. To be sure there are cosequences to our sin post salvation. Isaiah writes that our sin causes us to be separated from the Lord and his face is hidden from us. This separation is not a permanent condition for in the moment we repent we are forgiven and the communication is once again restored.  

John writes in Revelation 21:8 a list of sins that will keep one out of heaven. There are murders, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars. These are destined to the Lake of Fire. Rather these are people who have not received the gift of eternal life. Once they receive the gift of salvation, they are no longer viewed in these terms. They have become new creations with Christ living within them.

 God loves us and wants the very best for us. When we sin, fall short of the mark, we are failing to recognize God's goodness, his righteousness, his perfection.  We are wretched sinners and not worthy to be called children of God. Fortunateluy for us God's lovingkindness provides a way for us to overcome our humanness and avoid the Lake of Fire. Praise God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us.