Why is our sin so sinful?
12Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.—Jeremiah 2:12-13
Have you ever been reading in the Old Testament and then winced when God calls for the complete destruction of a group of people? Have you ever thought “That seems a little too much God” or “The punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime?” That response happens when we forget just how bad sin is, or for lack of a better term, how sinful sin is.
God reminds us through the prophet Jeremiah that sin is grievous, shocking, wicked, appalling, and utterly desolate. God addresses the universe and makes His case against the sin of His people. It is an open and shut case where there is no argument against His assessment. Why no argument? Because He is God and this is His universe! Sin is appalling. Do you think of your sin as appalling to God? I know sometimes I don’t. And that’s a mistake.
Why is sin so appalling, desolate, and shocking? God gives us two reasons in the above passage. First, because we reject His goodness. And second, because we look for goodness somewhere else.
When we sin, we are basically saying, “My way is better than Your way, God!” We are forsaking the fountain of living waters for “cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water.” A cistern is like a pot that was buried to store water. The cistern would be filled with water and it was useful only if it was not cracked. If it cracked or broke, it would leak and dirty water would pour in contaminating the fresh water, making it undrinkable. Not good. What God is telling us is that when we sin, we are giving up clean, crisp, spring water and exchanging it for dirty, gas station toilet water. Disgusting!!! That is what sin looks like. It really does. That’s why sin is appalling, shocking, utterly desolate.
So, why look at sin? Isn’t that a bit depressing? Disgusting, yes, but with Christ, not depressing at all. It is only against a true and honest look at our sin that we can see the sparkling jewel of grace that we so desperately need. —Hayden Norris
Journal
· Do I see all my sin as disgusting or justified?
· If I do see how bad my sin is, how is that going to change the way that I live today?
Prayer - Father in heaven, what You say about my sin is true. Sin hurts me. It destroys my relationships with others, and it separates me from finding my blessings in You. Convict me of the sin that harms me and help me to turn from it. Help me to see the sinfulness of my sin so that I might enjoy the goodness and freedom of Your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
