Double Trouble

Twins have always been of a particular interest to me. How can two people look so alike? The hair is the same color. They have the same smile. They tilt their heads just ever so slightly in the same direction when they question something. When they style themselves the same way, they are indistinguishable to most people…except those that know them well.

Dad knows that Susie like strawberry ice cream, while Cheryl likes rocky road. Susie has a tiny little sneeze. Cheryl? Forget about it; her sneeze is like a fog horn sounding off! Cheryl is the sociable one while Susie keeps to herself. Dad even knows that Susie has a tiny birthmark on the back of her neck and Cheryl doesn’t.

Some people look at Christians thinking they are no different from anyone else, but we are.We physically look the same as other people. We might play the same sports, sing the same songs and drive the same cars as the rest of the world. Sometimes, it’s sad to say, we even act the same as other people, (in a negative way.) That has some earthly consequences for us followers of Jesus.

If a plain old car cuts someone off in traffic, no one thinks twice about it, but if someone with a “Jesus” emblem on their car does it.…let the wagging of the heads begin! The world is watching as we are a “peculiar people.” 1Peter 2:9 Folks who don’t know God yet sometimes take pleasure in pointing our sins out to each other and to us. Sin is sin, no matter who commits it. It’s true, my sin is no different from anyone else’s. Sometimes we may get to thinking maybe we really are just like other people. But there is a big difference between sinning and living a life of sin.

Take David for instance, he was a “man after God’s own heart. Acts 13;22 says,” After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ While true, David did do everything God wanted him to do; he also did some things God didn’t want him to do.

No one of us, on this planet, is immune to falling into sin. The difference is that some of us are forgiven. David, who was in the direct lineage of Jesus Himself found grace in God. He was honest with God about who he was and what he did. God helped him overcome the sin in his life and come to a place of repentance.

In Psalm 28. David begs of God, “To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.” Psalm 28:1 I don’t know about you, but I despise my sin! Why? Because God’s word says “for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1Peter 1:16 That is not a request! David knew that at the core of his humanity his sin was no different from anyone else’s but he was set apart for God. The natural consequence of sin is separation from God. But Who he knew, made him different. So, while positionally David was holy, experientially he was still capable of great sin. Just as we are today.

Some sins are like a slippery slope…we put one foot in and wham! We are carried away in it! We didn’t intend to, well sometimes we do intend to do it, but we hate it just the same. Paul speaks famously of this struggle in Romans 7;15-16 “15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.”

So, while people see our sin, Jesus sees His beloved struggling. Jesus knows that we don’t always win in the battle of sin, but He has won the war on our behalf! He paid for that sin, with His own flesh and blood.

God knows when we feel defeated by sin. We can count on Him to help us in the midst of it all! God’s word says, “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.’ Isaiah 58:1

Child of God, I don’t know what you may be struggling with today. But I do know our Mighty and Awesome God. I know what He can do with a surrendered life. Be not mistaken, you may look like everyone else, your sin, just as bad. But you are different! God knows in Whom you trust. He won’t let you down! 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness and broke away their chains. Psalm 107: 13-14

Believe He can deliver you from anything and He will! “Do not fear, Zion do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:16b-17 You are beloved of God. Don’t ever forget that and don’t give up!!