We tend to laugh off the wrongs of others, even encourage others to do so too as we gossip through various social media tools. Except of course when it is something that has been done against us… then we are interested in justice. It is then that we find ourselves agreeing with the Bible that sin is not a little thing.
Mankind’s sin against God is not treated lightly let alone ignored by God. Because God is Just and Righteous it calls out God’s wrath (holy burning anger) and curse upon the sinner. We are “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3)
19 What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?
All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever
Sin’s effect in our lives takes on different levels. As summarised here the Bible’s teaching is like going down one basement level to another until you arrive at the one no one in their right mind wants to go and from which none can return.
David P Murray illustrates it well as follows:
All mankind by their fall…
1. Our Miserable Loss
…lost communion with God
2. Our Miserable Load
…are under his wrath and curse…
3. Our Miserable Liability
a. Miseries of this life
…and so made liable to all the miseries of this life…
b. Miseries of death
…to death itself…
c. Miseries of hell
…and to the pains of hell forever.
These miseries may be anxiety of heart and anguish of mind, loss of health or property, pains of hunger, tragedies or disasters. Then there is the certainty of death and the fear that it may come at any moment. And beyond death are the penalties or the pains of Hell.
Today is the day of salvation! Now is the time that God has given us to come to the Saviour Jesus who alone shuts the gates of Hell and opens the gates of Heaven for sinners.