Thursday, June 20, 2024

SIN, LIGHT AND GLORY

 

            What comes to mind when you hear the words “laws”, “commandments” or “ordinances”? Do you immediately think of restriction and a loss of freedom? Well, sometimes that is the case. But in the case of God’s commandments and ordinances, it means spreading our wings, growth and freedom. It means living life to the full.

            Have you ever had an object that was broken? You knew something was wrong because it just wasn’t working right. But you couldn’t put your finger on exactly what it was that was wrong, so you didn’t even know how to begin to fix it.

            When we are still controlled by our sin nature, we may know something isn’t right, but until we understand what is broken, we can’t begin to fix it. That is why God has commandments, laws and ordinances. It isn’t to burden us down. They are the keys to how we can fix what is broken in us. When He shines His light on us, we can see clearly.

            Psalm 90:8 tells us, “You [God] have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.”  God sees clearly every sin, even the ones we think we have hidden so cleverly. Some we may have even tried to hide from ourselves. But every sin is open before God. When He shines His light on our sin, we can be like Isaiah and confess it, or we can hold to it. When Isaiah confessed his sins before God, he was cleansed and called to become God’s prophet. What a difference the Light can make if we let it.

Sin is a given. We are all born with a sin nature. But it is our individual choice as to whether we will allow the light of God’s Word to shine in our hearts and begin to change us or stay as we are. When we allow the Spirit of God to do a work in us, it is the beginning of freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As we allow the Word of God to be actively part of our lives (not just our thoughts), we are continually being washed and cleansed. We are continually growing more and more into His glory.   

Ephesians explains how we can go through this process from sin to Light, to glory and continue to grow in that glory. Jesus has paid the price for our break from sin and the process of experiencing the glory of God in our lives. Verses 25-27 say, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church [those who are born again], and gave Himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

This is the ongoing process of sanctification or cleansing in us. We continue to grow from glory to glory…from one height to another. The Word of God is alive and powerful. It becomes a mirror to show us blemishes that need to be dealt with by coming into agreement with the Word. God does not enjoy pointing out our sins to remind us we are flawed. He does so to bring us into a greater realm of His glory, closer to Him. It is His delight for us to continue the process of growing into His image.

Daily as we read the Word, we see areas where we are obviously growing as well as areas we need to be cleansed from.  As we obey what we read, we are cleansed. We are growing from glory to glory! From one level of manifesting Jesus in our lives to another level of manifesting Jesus in our lives! It is wonderful to know the process of sanctification is a continuing process taking us from glory to glory.

What many think of as a set of rules that are restrictive and cause us to labor is really the enlightenment to spiritual things that take us higher and higher into the kingdom of God. Psalm 19:7-14 tells us how this process can work in us.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;” - God’s laws will not only “keep us in line”, but they will change our innermost being from sin to glory. He converts us by His Word and by His Spirit.

“The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;” A testimony is a declaration and evidence. God’s spoken Word and His evidence are sure. They are trustworthy and unquestionable. We can depend on Him.

“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;” the rules and government of God are not burdensome, but will cause us to rejoice. They will set us free from our enslavement to sin.

“The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;” God’s decrees and mandates are pure. There are no ulterior motives or deceit in them. When we receive His commandments, they will open our eyes to spiritual truths that we could not see or understand before.

            “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;” When we have a deep reverence for God, we will find that it is good. It is spotless and unpolluted and will cleanse us all the way through.

“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”  - There is nothing false in any of God’s judgments. They are all true and sincere with no deceit to mislead us or trick us. His decisions are all sound and based on fact. We can count on His authority.

“More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb; To know with certainty that there is a just Authority over us gives us a sweet sense of peace. We can lay our lives in His hands knowing there is no deceit in Him or His judgments. Our trust in Him will not be misplaced.

“Moreover, by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.” For us to have the Word of God in our hands is great. Having it in our hearts will change our lives. His Word warns us so we can keep on the right path. There is great reward in knowing we are being guided by the One Who loves us, gave Himself for us and will lead us into His kingdom. All we have to do is follow Him.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.” When we realize that on our own, we will follow the wrong voices and go in the wrong direction, we can turn wholeheartedly to Jesus. Presumptuous sins are sins committed when we are arrogant and overconfident in ourselves rather than recognizing our need to follow His Word daily.

Verse 14 is a cry for complete submission to Jesus through the Word of God being consistently in our mouth and in our hearts. It says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 119:9-11 tells us in a nutshell how to change from darkness to light.  How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.[AMPLIFIED BIBLE]

When we follow the Word of God, we will find His power in us enabling us to walk in the light and grow from glory to glory.