Do We Take Sin Seriously?

 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel.

Joshua 7:1 (NIV)

                In my devotions this week, I read Joshua 7. It is a disturbing passage of scripture because of the extreme consequences of Achan’s sin. To put things in context, the people of Israel were commanded to conquer the city of Jericho by the power of God. They were to devote everything in the city to God. They were to take nothing for themselves. Achan found a robe from Babylon, some silver, and some gold. He wanted these things for himself, so he took them and hid them in his tent.

                Later, Joshua sent a small force to capture the city of Ai, a small city with few defenders. Instead of overtaking the city, the Israelites were routed. Joshua and the people were devastated. Joshua sought God and asked why He had allowed this defeat. God revealed that Israel had sinned by taking some of the devoted things. Joshua examined the people and discovered what Achan had done. Because of his sin, Achan, his family and all that he had were stoned and then burned. Stones were piled up over the remains as a sign to the people of how seriously God takes sin.

                I am so thankful that because of Christ, God deals with our sin in grace and mercy. But unfortunately, this has often caused us to take our sin lightly. Because there doesn’t seem to be any immediate consequences to our sin, we believe that we don’t have to take our sin seriously. I think we do this to our own peril.

                Paul challenged the Corinthians to awaken to the seriousness of sin. As Paul was instructing the Corinthians about their worship services, he warned them that God will not take their sin lightly.

That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:30-32 (NIV)

                When we don’t take sin seriously, we give it the opportunity to take root in our life and grow. What may seem small at first has the potential to become something that will alter the course of our life. James warns us that sin is not something to be played with.

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15 (NIV)

The Bible instructs us to keep short accounts with God. As John instructs us, when we become aware of sin in our life, we need to take action. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)

                What God instructed Joshua to do the Achan and his family seems extreme, barbaric, and even cruel to us. It violates our sensitivities. Yet it demonstrates just how seriously God takes sin. He took it so seriously that He sent Jesus into the world to take our punishment on the cross, to literally give His life so that our sin can be forgiven. Should we take sin less seriously than God?

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:21-24 (NIV)