We don't have a good record when it comes to good and evil. Mankind doesn't and neither do you and I. We call it in the general sense sin. The idea is that which is done which is not right but wrong is sin. That seems to be a pretty simple concept but it is really lost by a lot of people. James 4:17 makes it perfectly clear when we read that-
Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't, to him it is sin.
For you and I today we can read that verse and fully agree with and understand what the Holy Spirit through James is saying. We can understand it in the big and the little things of life. The things that affect us and the way we think or act.
Now that is the case for us but from what we see and read today that is not the case with an every growing number of people. It is not hard for us to see and acknowledge that sin when it is very obvious. It does become much more difficult when it is cloaked in a way that is presented as something that everyone needs to know. What is then the motivation? The motivation is that the individual wants that which will clearly not be of the Lord.
This is not something new it has been going on since the beginning of time. It is always good to go back and look at how man has responded to things. When we do we can understand that we are where we are today because this is the way man handles life.
So where did sin, knowing to do good and not doing it begin? In the Garden of Eden. You all probably know the story well. Eve was tempted by the serpent and ate the fruit from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When she did, it was sin. Then she gave it to Adam and he ate. When he did , it was sin. Sin came into the world because Eve and Adam ate what God had said they should not. They knew what the consequences were of eating of the tree. God had told them and in Genesis 2:17 using the Amplified Bible we read it for ourselves-
but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].”
It is interesting that the Amplified notes that the knowledge is also the recognition of good and evil. We have a knowledge of it but so often we don't recognize it which leads to our own demise. God said they would die and that means both spiritually and physically. Physical death in the sense of becoming mortal. Actually, they had been created immortal. That was God's plan for mankind but sin got in the way.
As you read about the beginning, you will see it did not take man long before sin took on the form of hate. Hate that led to murder. The sons of Adam and Eve were Cain and Abel. In the Biblical account, Cain killed Abel because God had accepted Abel's sacrifice but rejected his. It was jealousy that caused Cain became the first murderer.
Within a short few years from the creation of a perfect world sin had caused disobedience to God's command and the taking of a life by another. The spiral has continued until today and it is certainly worse now than ever before.
I heard recently that someone asked if this is the generation that will experience the rapture of the church? I have spoken on this before and we might possibly be that one. Whether we are or not is of no real significance. We need to each be concerned and focused on how we are individually living our life's. Are we doing the things God would have us to do? Are we serving His purpose in our lives? Is He glorified by what we say and how we live?
In 1 Peter 3:15 again using the Amplified Bible, Peter said-
But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.
He makes it very clear that we need to be prepared to give a testimony. Because we are holy (set apart). It is our faith that gives a message to others with gentleness and respect.
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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