For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.    Hebrews 10:26-27 HCSB

Many times growing up, there were things that my parents told me not to do in order to keep me safe. If I got too close to a hot stove, I was told not to touch it. I was not allowed to get on the road or cross the street without an adult with me holding my hand. As I got a little older I was told to not to stay out too late. I was told not to drive too fast. These were all things that my parents told me not to do because they loved me and wanted to keep me safe.

Yesterday, our pastor pointed out that God tells us not to sin because He loves us and wants to keep us safe.  The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) tells us not to misuse the Lord’s name, commit murder, commit adultery, want what someone else has or steal, lie or gossip against your neighbor. There are a number of other things we are told not to do. We are told not to be afraid or discouraged in Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, and Joshua 1:9. We are told not to judge others in Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37 and James 4:12. We are told not to speak evil of others in Ephesians 4:29 and Titus 3:2-7. We are told in Hebrews 10:25 that we should not neglect going to church. We are told in Psalm 37:1 not to be agitated by evildoers or envy those who do wrong. This is just a few and I am sure that I left out some scripture passages dealing with this issue, but I wanted to be sure you got the general idea.

The Bible tells us these things for the same reasons loving parents tell their children not to do certain things. God doesn’t want to see us get hurt. He knows that our sin will hurt us. The problem with sin is that it seems to be a good idea at the time. It is often glorified in the movies and on television. Commercials glorify sinful behavior like drinking, adultery, homosexuality and the list goes on.

God’s Holy word is like an instructional booklet for how we are to live our lives. It tells us what we should do and what we shouldn’t do and provides us with examples of those who followed God’s word and those who did not.

In John 14:15, we are told if we love the Lord, we will keep His commands. This means that we will do what He tells us to do and we will not do what He tells us not to do. 1John 2:4 says whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. 1 John 3:6 says no one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.

We obey our parents for two reasons, first because we love them and secondly because we had what I like to call a healthy fear of them. We didn’t want to face the judgment that would follow our disobedience.

We obey God for the same reasons. First of all when we realize the deep love He has for us, we should reciprocate that love. We show our love for Him and our respect and awe of Him through trusting in Him and obeying His commands. Secondly, we should have a reverential fear of the Lord. No one gets a free pass to sin. We will be judged for our sin. There is no getting around that. Our scripture passage tells us that deliberate sin leads to a terrifying expectation of judgment.

I beg of you today to get into God’s Word. Have a good working knowledge of what He expects us to do and not to do. James 4:17 tells us that it is a sin for those of us who know to do good and don’t do it.

If you are saved and feel a gentle nudging about something you are doing or are not doing, this may be God trying to convict you and warn you of impending judgment. Pay attention to this. Develop a close relationship with Him through Bible study and prayer. If you are not doing what God commands you to do, get busy doing that.

But please, whatever you do, don’t do what God tells us not to do. He is telling us this for His own good, please pay careful attention.

Have a great day!