Pitfalls

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Psalm 103: 8 - 13 NKJV

These days I really choose not to think of those times.  Those times where I partook in what I knew was wrong in the eyes of my heavenly Father.  Those times I fell into lifes pitfalls.  For it was in times such as this that I would choose to seclude myself from those friends who had stood beside me.  Instead of seeking counsel in those around me in my time of need, I chose instead to isolate myself from them.  Be it pornography or some other behavior, that shame which I surrounded myself wth made me feel as if I would soon face the scorn of others.  See, christians aren't supposed to act this way...right?  It was that disapointent, shame and how I perceived others would see me that often would keep me away.  It's funny what shame will do to a person.  Of course, we all know that christian or not, we all will eventually face the temptations of the enemy.  I've seen many a pastor and evengelist fall by the wayside in my time, brought down by their own actions.  These were CHRISTIAN people.  Apparently there is a behavior standard by which the world judges the followers of Jesus.  There is no doubt that as christians that we will come into temptations and lifes pitfalls.  Christ Jesus Himself warned us about this {John 16:33} and the Lords brother indeed claimed that we should consider these tribulations as joy {James 1: 2-3}.  Nowhere, it seems, are we told that as christians we are immune to lifes struggles.  On the contrary, we are told to expect such things in our walk with Jesus as He is our example of just how to deal with such pitfalls {1 Peter 2:21}.

"I don't need to punish people for sin.  Sin is it's own punishment, devouring you from the inside.  It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."
~William Paul Young The Shack~

One of my all time favorite phrases on the subject of the shame of sin comes from the film The Shack.  As Mack struggles with the sins of his past and his own personal tragedy, he is reminded of our heavenly Fathers true feelings for His children.  He does not need to punish us for our sins...for sin is indeed its own punishment.  Having been through many a situation where I have backslid into bad behaviors, I can attest to the reality of this statement.  From that moment where temptation leads us into sin, it is sin that devours us from the inside.  Through our own guilt, shame and self incrimination we run the gauntlet of self destruction.  In those moments where we stumble, we all too often fail to realize that there is no longer no need for us to cling to the guilt that accompanies our sin.  For not only did Christ Jesus become sin on our behalf that we might be saved {2 Corinthians 5:21}, He ultimately put to death that sin nature which we were born under {Romans 6: 6-12}.  Sure, we all have sinned and fallen short in our own  behaviors {Romans 3:23}, but it is through Christ Jesus that we no longer fear the condemnation of our sins {Romans 8:1}.  Far from being lost in our own  condemnation, it is Christ Jesus Himself who gives us freedom, for we know that He has taken our guilt, shame and condemnation upon Himself at the cross.

~Scott~