Revelation 3:19 by Seth Dunn

¹⁹ Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19

It is ultimately man’s sinful nature that separates him from Holy God.  The final punishment for the unrepentant sinner is an eternity in Hell away from God.  While Christians generally agree upon this, often people ask, “Does God judge some sins more harshly than others while we are here on Earth?”

We find the answer to this question from general revelation as well as from Scripture:Some sins are so detrimental to the self that God’s world seems to be a miserable place for those who partake in them.  For example, Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Of all men the drunkard is the foulest. The thief when he is not stealing is like another. The extortioner does not practice in the home. The murderer when he is at home can wash his hands. But the drunkard stinks and vomits in this own bed and dissolves his organs in alcohol.”
  

Scripture shows that God’s punishment is not always specifically prescriptive, however. The Bible gives numerous examples of harsh punishment from God for a certain sinful act.  God removed Saul from the throne of Israel for his disobedience.  (1 Samuel 15:28) David and Bathsheba lost a child as a result of the commission of murder and adultery.  (2 Samuel 12:14) Ananias and Sapphira lost their lives as a result of lying to the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 5:1-11)

We often don’t understand God’s motives and reasons for what he does (Isaiah 55:8-9).  It is best to remember that all sin is an affront to God and repent where we err.

Lord, discipline us when we trespass, forgive us of our sins, and keep us in your care.

Frightened and Fragile leads to Forgiveness By Katie Kilgore

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love…He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:8, 10-13

I have been a parent now for over seven years.  In that time, my husband and I have chosen to discipline our child with different forms of such depending on the offense.  A week or so ago we were faced with a new challenge in discipline that was not a fun episode.  Our seven year old told a lie.  It was blatantly obvious to us, but to him not so much.  It so happened that my husband has the not-so-good pleasure of being the disciplinarian on this particular evening.  As I sat in our kitchen, this is what I heard. “Son, you have lied to me and your Mother.  We don’t lie to you, so we expect that you don’t lie to us either.  I don’t believe that you have ever lied to us before, so I am going to give you a pass this time, but next time you will get a spanking.  Do you understand?”  Our son was sobbing like I had never heard him do before.   As I listened to the event unfold, the Holy Spirit gave me a clear picture of His mercy and grace that He freely gives us, His children.  If only we were as frightened and fragile from our behavior as our son was that night.  After all, forgiveness was all he needed…and it’s all we need from our heavenly Father.

Lord, help me to weep over my sins as my son did, and to weep often.  I am so thankful for the mercy and compassion that you show to me without end.  I am thankful that you allowed me the opportunity to witness an example of Your forgiveness through my husband and my son.

Amen