God Can Live With Your Sin

I stopped myself -- or, rather, the Holy Spirit stopped me. The other day, I found myself preparing to say the words that had been spoken to me so many times in my childhood: "God can't live in the presence of sin." I don't remember the situation, but I do recall I was encouraging one of the littles to do what is right. But, I stopped. And I prayed for the true words to come out of my mouth. (More on what God is doing to correct my knee-jerk reactions another day.) The truth that I spoke was that sin keeps us from having all God wants to give us and doing all God wants us to do for Him and for others. I left it right there for those at the kiddie table, but spent the next few moments thanking God for this journey. I realize that as I teach those in my care, I am learning as well. As I speak words that the Holy Spirit places on my heart, I am changed. My way of thinking and how I implement those thoughts is of greater importance to me because the reward is greater: children raised in the knowledge of God's immense grace and love, as demonstrated toward them. That is a reward I want to be a part of!

But the flipside of all of this is the parent I was years ago. I myself was a legalist, and I raised my children accordingly. I was trying not to be a legalistic parent, but that's also the reason I became a one -- I was trying not to be. I could not pass on the lessons of Jesus' grace and mercy because I, myself, wasn't living in them. I had put the cart before the horse, so to speak -- the gifts before the Giver -- and was encouraging my children to do the same. They obeyed. They judged others and promoted themselves. They tried very hard to please me because I could not tolerate misbehavior. I lost my relationship with them, and they lost out on daily encounters with Christ in me. 1 Corinthians 13, often identified as "The Love Chapter," describes the emptiness of putting rules and rituals before love. It also describes the dedication, hard work and spiritual maturity love requires. The closer we draw to Jesus, the better we are able to love others. My children grew up unsure of my love but well acquainted with my law. (Praise God, He is a God of MANY chances!)

The idea, "God can't live in the presence of sin" -- where did that come from anyway? -- is hogwash. Jesus came to earth as a man, but He remained fully God. He encountered Satan face to face in the wilderness. He forgave the sins of a lame man on the spot, and even healed him after those present openly expressed the evil that was in their hearts. He revealed Himself as the Messiah to a woman who had had five husbands, and came alongside another caught in adultery, lovingly defending her (not the behavior, but the woman). God has always existed -- even in the presence of sin (maybe, especially in the presence of sin). When I was as far away from Him as I thought I could get, He spared my life, sent people to speak a word to me, provided for me financially, and countless other acts of blessing -- many of which, I'm sure, I am unaware. He saw everything I did and loved me, sought me out anyway. For God, sin was not a deal breaker, but a master from which I needed to be rescued. He didn't turn His back on me, but drew me to Him. As a disciple of Christ, I am to seek out others for Him. If I am doing it right, I'll probably see a little sin along the way.

These last few weeks of quarantine have got us all feeling a bit trapped. The children spent most of yesterday playing in mud. We hosed off their duds at the door and straightaway carried them to the tub. I knelt next to each one, scrubbing mud from hair and ears, faces and fingernails. To imagine I could clean them up without encountering dirt, or I could stand on the other side of the door shouting out directives as to how they could get clean all on their own, would be foolish.

As foolish and impossible as being clean enough for a God who can't look on sin.