by Jeremy Paschall
Man calls sin an accident; God calls it an abomination.
Man calls sin a blunder; God calls it blindness.
Man calls sin a chance; God calls it a choice.
Man calls sin an error; God calls it enmity.
Man calls sin fascination; God calls it fatality.
Man calls sin infirmity; God calls it iniquity.
Man calls sin luxury; God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls sin a trifle; God calls it tragedy.
Man calls sin a mistake; God calls it madness.
Man calls sin a weakness; God calls it willfulness.
~author unknown
From the beginning of human history, mankind has tried to sugar-coat sin and call it something other than what it really is. Adam and Eve tried to call it being deceived (Genesis 3:12-13), Nadab and Abihu called it fire (Leviticus 10:1), and King Saul called it sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:21). But regardless of what they each called it, God called their respective actions sinful and worthy of punishment.
“Woe to those who call evil good…” (Isaiah 5:20)
In Genesis 39:1-9, we read a story about a young man named Joseph. He was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, betrayed and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers (Genesis 37). This story takes place while he was a slave in Egypt, serving in Potiphar’s house.
Joseph was a handsome young man (Genesis 39:6), and Potiphar’s wife began to lust after him (Genesis 39:7). She propositioned Joseph about committing fornication with her (Genesis 39:7), but he refused (Genesis 39:8), saying …
“…How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)
Joseph could have excused himself by saying, “It’s my duty to obey my master’s wife,” or “I’m away from my home and family so no one will ever know.” But instead he recognized the true nature of the action — sin against God — and refuse to do it. Even though his decision cost him great hardship (Genesis 39:10-20), Joseph saw sin as God sees it and made the right decision.
Like Joseph, we need to develop within our hearts an understanding of what sin really is. It is not just some trivial mistake of little or no consequence. It is a condition of separation from God.
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
May we all cultivate within our hearts the same humble attitude that King David expressed in the following passage…
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” (Psalm 51:1-4)