Mourning Over Sin

The fear of the LORD keeps people from sin as it is written in Exodus 20:20:  "And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."  One mark of those who genuinely value the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to atone for and redeem lost sinners do not remain in sin but confess and forsake it.  Forgiveness is not license to sin, for those drawn to Jesus by His lovingkindness ought not trample His blood underfoot.

While avoidance of sin and intentional doing what pleases God are marks of followers of Jesus Christ, there are other things God takes notice of as well:  He notices people loyal to Him who grieve and mourn over sins committed against Him.  A vision seen by Ezekiel demonstrates this in Ezekiel 9:4-6:  "...the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." ⁵ To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. ⁶ Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple."  God's eyes go to and fro the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him, for He is faithful to protect and save.  And when the time comes for judgment, He will not spare.

God directed a man with an inkhorn to place a mark on all those who sighed and cried over the abominations of the city of Jerusalem.  Whilst those would be spared, all others would face the judgment of God--and they began with the respected elders at God's sanctuary.  1 Peter 4:17-18 shows this is a principle consistent in the New Testament as well as it is written:  "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"  It is a good thing to take to heart:  do we sigh and cry over the abominations committed before God, whether it be our sin or that of others?  Are we convicted and repentant of our sin whilst being careless of others who are in sin?  Man looks on outward appearances, but God looks upon the heart.  How searching is His gaze; how merciful He is to make a way righteousness can be imputed to us.

It is remarkable that in a world steeped with sin there is much that could depress us and cause us to sink into despair, but when we look to Jesus we find a living hope, comfort, joy and consolation.  Those who weep over sin have the assurance of everlasting forgiveness and healing.  Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief yet remains our only source of perfect peace and joy forevermore.  This is the triumph of faith in Christ!  Those who are never far from tears due to the offence of sin may be numbered among those close to the LORD Jesus, upheld in His love because they walk in the fear of God.  Jesus wept over the consequences of sin and the painful separation death brings, and praise the LORD He has overcome.  To souls dead in sins He gives new life, and in Him we can rejoice always.