by Pastor Mark Moreno

God Knows What Is Best

I was an 80s kid, I grew up in a wonderful era: I remember going with a pocketful of quarters to video arcades, where there were dozens of video games plugged into the walls and I would meet my friends there and we would try to beat each other’s high scores. Those were the days!

But that was short lived for me, because soon video games became a home based activity. Nintendo, Atari and Sega all made playing video games at home more of the standard. But that was great too! I would enjoy different games, one of them being Super Mario World and it was there I first encountered a ghost on the screen that would be still as long as you looked at it. But the second you turned your back on it, it would approach you and end your game!

This is a lot like what happens to us if we turn our back, or a blind eye, to our sin. When we look at it, we may reason that it isn’t that bad. Maybe even harmless. But when we look away, and are least expecting, it has a way of hurting us and the people we care about.

Make no mistake: Our life with the Lord is no game! We read in 1 John 1:8-9,

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

This world wants us to deny that sin even exists, and if we do that, it will be our downfall. The simple fact of the matter is that we have a God that loves us and knows what is best for us. He has set limits for us and He does so in love and in truth.

My prayer for you today is not ignore sin. The more you ignore it, the closer it gets and it only brings hurt, sorrow and pain. Let us recognize sin and confess it and receive forgiveness. Thanks be to God that our Savior Jesus has defeated sin in His life, death and resurrection!

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado