(More to come...)
Laws in our society help us distinguish between right and wrong, and when we break a law, we become guilty and our hearts thud rapidly in our chests as we quickly look about to see if there is a law enforcer in sight. I, for one, do this when I'm speeding on the highway or parking in a no-parking zone to run a quick errand. I know when I am violating a traffic law or speed limit because of the signs that are posted up.
But what if there were no signs posted up? Or what if someone from the United States were to drive up to Canada and speed up in miles per hour to the speed limits posted, not realizing that the numbers are posted in reference to kilometers per hour? Would such a person, ignorant of his mistake, feel guilty? Of course not. Why would that person feel guilt when, to the best of his knowledge, he is abiding by the law? Say, however, that as this person is ignorantly speeding along, he sees a bunch of schoolchildren crossing ahead of him but cannot stop in time, due to his speed, and ends up running into them. Ultimately, is this person guilty of speeding or not? Of course he is, even though he only comes to realize this after the fact of the matter. If only he had known sooner that he was speeding, he may have been able to slow down to the correct speed posted for the school zone, and avoided such a tragedy.
When we live ignorant of God's laws, we are in a similar situation. We trangress against God's laws but feel free from guilt, not knowing how greatly we are sinning. In ignorance, we try to be a "good person" by keeping all of man's laws, but meanwhile we break God's laws on a daily basis. We are blind to our wrongdoings and are prone to boast of our goodness until we turn to God's Word. The commandments within pierce our ignorance and prove to us that "there is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10) As long as we live in ignorance, we are headed toward a certain tragedy. God's Word, and the laws within, exist to wake us from this ignorance so that we may come to repent unto salvation. "... For by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." (Psalm 19:7-11)
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." (Psalm 119:9)
Do you consider yourself a "pretty good" person? Check out what the Bible lists as sins, and see if you are guilty of committing any sin on the list even once in your lifetime. Then try rating yourself again, this time on God's scale.
SINS