CRIME and PUNISHMENT…Or?
There’s a well known saying: “if you commit the crime, you do the time” and then someone usually adds “only if you get caught”. In the Bible it says that we all commit the crime (sin) and that we all get caught by a God who sees and knows all. And since the “…wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) then we are all going to do the time.
But our tendency is more to believe Satan who stated: “Has God indeed said…?” After all, no one died after the first sin was committed, at least not physically, and at least not right away. It would appear that Satan may have been right when he said “…You shall not surely die…” (Genesis 3:4) when tempting Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.
So why were we not just put to death right away? Perhaps it was due to God’s grace and Him giving us a second chance. However, a death of sorts did take place. There was a change in our existence — an immediate separation between God and man — an imposted penalty that has had consequences over the ensuing years. Many still feel, however, that the grace imparted to us initially causes God to overlook our crimes and therefore we can sin all we want. But the punishment is still waiting and is even with us now.
Even though death did not come right away, God did inflict five consequences as a result of what took place: two against women, two against men, and a fifth against everyone. To Eve, He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children…” (Genesis 3:16). And this is certainly true at present, most mammals give birth much more easily than do humans, and without analgesics. He also said to the woman: “…Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16). This has been true for in most cultures, and even ours until more recently (even still in some ways), women have been considered property, with few, if any, rights and little status, ruled over by men.
To Adam, He said: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it…” (Genesis 3:17). Man alone has to plant and work the crops to obtain food and, in addition, often has to work hard with large financial expenditures and multiple problems. “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread…” (Genesis 3:19).
And then to all, He said: “For dust you are, And to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). So in the end physical death does occur and sin has its final payment. The difficulty is that the punishment seems so far removed from the crime that many feel that God overlooks sin. That His grace covers all, therefore, us simply accepting and tolerating our sin, and that of others, is all we have to do to be forgiven.
So has the punishment for sin been forgotten and is God just going to cover everyone with His grace? It appears many seem to think so but the five punishments mentioned above should make us realize that all has not been forgotten nor forgiven.
And that should give one something to think about.
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