June 1
“Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:5-6,11-12)
As we finish up this Resisting Principle 3: REMEMBER the pain, destruction, etc., I would like to remind us of the examples the scripture gives us of those who sinned and suffered the consequences. The verses above from 1 Corinthians are part of Paul’s discussion of the Israelites in the wilderness, how they acted worshipped idols, committed immorality, grumbled, and tested the Lord. God brought severe consequences upon them, and Paul is letting us know that those judgments, as severe as they may seem to us today, were done for our benefit, for all the people of God to learn from and understand what God thinks of sin and what He considers a just punishment for that sin.
We could look at how God judged them and say, “Wow, that was a pretty harsh consequence for that sin,” and we would be wrong to say that. What we are seeing is a just consequence for the sin, it is just that God rarely gives people that consequence. In that instance, during the time of God’s direct presence and great miracles and the giving of the Law, He wanted to make it very clear what He thinks of sin and what He considers a just recompense for it. It is just for God to strike us down with bolts of lightning or take away our lives for any sin; that would be His prerogative, and He would be within His righteousness if He chose to do so. But let’s not be ignorant to think that our sin isn’t that bad; all of our sin is offensive and heinous to God and worthy of instant judgment.
There is David and the judgments against him and his family for his sin with Bathsheba and also God’s seemingly severe judgments against him when he numbered Israel (see 1 Chronicles 21). Was God unjust in these judgments? Was God unjust in putting so many to death for the sins of King David? What about the sins of other kings of Israel and Judah, how the entire nation was made to stumble because of the sins of its leaders? Was God unjust to bring these judgments against them? What about Sampson? He lost his eyesight and became enslaved due to his indiscretion.
Ananias and Sapphira found out the hard way what God thinks of the sin of lying to God’s people, which Peter equated with lying to the Holy Spirit and putting Him to the test (Acts 5). They were killed for this indiscretion. Are to think that they committed a worse sin that the kinds of sins that are being committed everyday amongst God’s people? Probably not, but they committed the sin during a time of great miracles and power, during a time when the scriptures were being written, and I believe that God wanted to send a clear message to us, to everyone, what He thinks about lying and premeditated deception. He is communicating to us the severity of the sin and what a just punishment would be if He were to give it to us. This should motivate us to fear the Lord and thank Him for the mercy that He shows us each and every day.
Study the scriptures to see other examples of God’s judgment on sin. Remember that He is just in giving us a severe punishment every time we sin. Remember the wrath that will come on unbelievers and their eternal punishment in hell. Remember the suffering and torture of Christ when He took our punishments on Himself. Remember that every sin will be brought to light and judged. Remember emptiness and loss and pain and shame that are the inevitable result of sin. Remember the pain that we cause the Holy Spirit when we sin. Remember how ugly and worthless sin really is the next time you are tempted. Unmask sin and its consequences, do not be deceived as to what the true results will be if we choose to disobey.