Most believers are pretty clear on the effects of sin, but few are clear about “cause and effect.” Religion has taught us that when we sin God withdraws from us, is unwilling to hear our prayers and is punishing us with rejection. Most of that is based on Isaiah 59:2, But your iniquities have separated you from your God. This feeling of rejection causes us to feel unloved, forcing us to look to sources other than God to determine our value, resulting in low self-worth!
Based on all we’ve been taught the aforementioned explanation is the logical conclusion. However, when we look at what the Scripture actually says we realize that the consequences of sin are more about what’s going on in us than God’s reaction.
Isaiah continues to say your sins have hidden His face from you. It doesn’t say God is hiding His face; our sins are hiding His face. They limit our ability to see and connect to God. The functional outcome of sin is the same whether we believe sin is affecting God or us. But the relational implications and effect on our self-worth is totally different.
In Colossians 1:2, Paul gives us great insight into the cause and effect of sin, And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works… This verse reveals that the alienation from God was the consequence of how sin affects our mind. The Greek word for “mind” is more than “intellect.” It is a word for deep, subconscious thoughts that influence how we feel. For more information about overcoming the devastation sin wreaks on your self-worth, check out, The Supernatural Power of Making Decisions!
The death of sin is how it affects us, not how it affects God. God told Adam he would die if he ate of the Tree. Many carnal theologians argue that Adam did not die, but the death in him was evident when God came to fellowship with him in the Garden and Adam was afraid. Sin altered the way he saw and consequently experienced God. Overcome the effect of sin on your self-worth this week in CyberChurch as we discuss The Matrix of Life!
