Something that is very fascinating to me, that I have spent a great deal of time considering, is the general moral differences between people.
What I mean is, people react differently to common temptations. It fascinates me that some people appear to be drawn with a powerful persuasion toward a variety of sinful activities, while others can reject the same with ease.
Don’t mistake me. I’m not referring to Christians versus unbelievers. I’m referring to people in a general sense. In general, some see something labeled “forbidden” and run towards it, while others see the same and are repelled.
When Jesus is introduced to either of the types of people that I’m referring to, there immediately arises obstacles for both.
The great obstacles of the one who is seemingly drawn toward all things sinful is, one, coming to the understanding of what things are wrong according to the Bible and must be forgiven, two, convincing the person that Jesus is the solution to their sin problem and will fulfill their greatest needs, and three, that Jesus can actually forgive them, make them pure and save them from the eternal punishment of Hell.
The great obstacles of the one who is seemingly naturally repelled by things that are wrong is, one, coming to the understanding that being morally superior to other people does not make you moral in the sight of God, two, convincing the person that they are a sinner and need Jesus just as much as those morally inferior to them, and three, that Jesus can actually make them pure and save them from the eternal punishment of Hell.
For each type of person, these lists of obstacles are, of course, not exhaustive. We all come with our different quirks regarding the reasons we feel both superior and inferior, but make no mistake, there is no person without obstacles.
Some have fallen victim to the false belief that once they committed to following Jesus that whatever their temptations were before would simply not be tempting anymore. Others have fallen victim to the equally wrong belief that prior to Christ they were already good and with Christ they are now better.
The English Puritan theologian Thomas Brooks once said, “Pride grows with the decrease of other sins and thrives on their decay. Satan is subtle. He will make us proud of our very graces. He will make us proud that we are not proud.”
If you ever find yourself feeling morally superior, just go to the Gospels and visit the cross. See the suffering of our Lord Jesus and understand that because of the ugliness of our sin, collectively, and your sin, individually, that he had to suffer and die in the manner in which he did. He had to have a punishment fit for our crimes against God.
There are no big or small sins, just ugly, uglier and ugliest. Even one sin is enough to send any person to Hell for all eternity. Whatever our natural, behavioral, moral disposition may be toward sin, let us all join hands together, and in unity of faith and humility, kneel at the cross of our Lord Jesus and thank Him for saving us.
Much Love!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
