Wednesday, December 29, 2010

WELCOME TO THE PERILS OF THE DESERT

Taken out of captivity by a savior and now living in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. That describes the Israelites of the Exodus. That also describes us as believers!

One significant thing that happened in the desert was when God gave Moses the law. Once the law was given, men now had a set of standards in which to judge what was right and what was wrong. Now they knew what God considered sin.

Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given, but no record of sin is kept when there is no law.- Romans 5:13

And the law caused the sin and rebellion in man to rise. Tell anyone that there is something they can’t do and the immediate reaction is “Oh, yeah? I can do what I want.”

For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. -Romans 7:5 (emphasis mine)

So the law is what causes our ‘sinful passions’ to arise! Before the law was given, there was sin in the world (Ro 5:13) but God kept no record of it. And people didn’t know it was sin. But once the law came, the sin in us rose to it’s full height. And in that height, in that craving and desire, there is the danger of being over-filled.

But here’s the good news:

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more – Romans 5:20 (emphasis mine)

No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.- 1 Corinthians 10:13 (emphasis mine)

Yes, as we walk in the desert we have the law that was given to those ancient desert-walkers that causes the sin in us to arise. But we also have GRACE, abounding all the more, and a God-provided way out to every temptation! Plus we modern-day desert walkers have something our ancients didn’t have: Jesus Christ and His work on the cross!

The International Standard Version best states God’s answer to our problem:

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. -Romans 7:24,25a