What if we fail God? When God calls us to walk with Him, we wonder, “Can we really walk with a holy God?” What happens if we fail Him? Is He constantly wielding a big stick to strike us (dead) if we fail? Or is He always looking away or He just kisses us on the cheeks as if nothing happened?
God’s Requirement
God’s requirement and desire are for His children to walk with Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives.
We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. Luke 1:74-75
God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
Our loving God and Father has our best interest in mind. Jeremiah 29: 11. He wants to shield us from all dangers from, and traps of the enemy of our soul, Satan. His principles and guidelines are for our protection, peace and prosperity. The Israelites failed to understand this. Deuteronomy 32: 28-33 states:
28 “But Israel is a senseless nation;
the people are foolish, without understanding.
29 Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!
Oh, that they might know their fate!
30 How could one person chase a thousand of them,
and two people put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock had sold them,
unless the Lord had given them up?
31 But the rock of our enemies is not like our Rock,
as even they recognize.
32 Their vine grows from the vine of Sodom,
from the vineyards of Gomorrah.
Their grapes are poison,
and their clusters are bitter.
33 Their wine is the venom of serpents,
the deadly poison of cobra.
The nation of Israel had cycles of departing from the Lord. Each time they went away from the Lord, the enemy oppressed them. This was the pattern in The Book of Judges as well as Jewish history, right from the Exodus. Even so, anytime they returned to the Lord, In His mercy, He forgave and delivered them.
God’s Remedy
God’s mercy was available to Adam and Eve too. God had a plan of redemption for humanity even before the Fall. He already made provision for Jesus Christ to become the Sacrificial Lamb that would take away the sins of Adam and the whole world. John 3:16. God loves the whole world. That includes you and me. It doesn’t matter who you are – whether you have sinned greatly or not; whether you once knew the Lord and went far away from Him later; or whether you’ve been playing church, appearing outwardly holy but filled with impurities on the inside; or you’ve been faltering, failing and falling occasionally. God loves you! Jesus paid the price for our sins!
Our Response
Yet, God gave us all the freedom to choose. Adam was free to choose what he wanted. Israelites were free to do the same. So are we today. As we can choose to sin, so we can choose to be free from sin. Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Jesus is happy to come into our hearts and restore us into grace and fellowship. Revelation 3:20
Our Righteousness
Can we sustain a holy walk with the Lord all the days of our lives? Let the Word of God answer this question:
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 John 2:1-2
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:14-16
Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Hebrews 2:17-18
The Word of God keeps us from sinning. However, the same provision that saves us from sin when we first give our lives to Jesus is available if we fail to meet up with His requirements to be holy. We need not rationalize and justify our failings. Rather, we should come boldly and quickly to Him for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration. He is merciful. Some sins do have consequences. David’s adultery and murder, for instance, brought problems to him and his children. So, in the long run, it is wiser to keep from sin and its destructive power.
May God give (us) more and more grace and peace as (we) grow in (our) knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. – 2 Peter 1:2
Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord
- Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.- Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
- Refrain:
- Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross. - Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today. - Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive.