Fall & Lament, 1

The reality of our sin-nature affects the way we think about sin. As believers, we understand the severity of sin and its ugliness at some level otherwise we would not have seen the necessity for salvation. But do we realize how our flesh subtitling impacts the way we process sinful behavior even when we attempt to deal with it biblically? Revelation 18 provides a stark example of when confession and true repentance are neglected. John records the future demise of the world’s system when the great city of Babylon experiences judgment and divine destruction following the seven years of Tribulation. But notice the response of the remaining population while observing the fall of the city. The people are described as weeping and mourning over the loss of Babylon and all it provided (v8-19). They lament losing the source of their worldly gains and sinful pleasure instead of repenting of their rebellion. Babylon’s judgment was obvious but their love for pleasure and a godless lifestyle left them focused on the wrong thing—the result of the consequence rather than the reason. This thought process may be evident in our own lives more often than we might realize. As a parent of small children, it is rather common for a child’s attention to be distracted by the kind of discipline and its necessary results. We will inadvertently do the same thing when we experience difficult circumstances. We focus on the pain or discomfort rather than what we might learn or how we might grow. Without conflating divine judgment with the effects of living in a fallen world, it still behooves us to take a hard look at how we respond to our sin in light of the consequences. Is there genuine brokenness over our sin, or do we evidence this idea of carnal sorrow—the kind of sorrow that mourns the consequence and its results? This kind of sorrow will never produce lasting change. It merely provokes a response that is self-centered at its core, similar to what we see with Cain in Genesis 4, Pharaoh in Exodus 5, the rich man in Luke 16, and Judas in Matthew 27. How we respond following the feeling of guilt or the pain of consequences will either reveal a broken heart that leads to repentance (life) or a callous heart that leads to habitual rebellion (death). May God help us see our sin for what it is regardless of the discipline or any practical ramifications. “Against You and You only have we sinned” (Ps 51:4). Let us regularly repent of our sin and rejoice in our salvation. —Pastor Nate

Sunday at Liberty

9AM: 1 John 4:7-12–Being Characterized by Love

10AM: Pastor Rory–Fall & Lament, 1–Revelation 18:1-24 (sermon notes)

No Evening Gathering