The Worth Of Knowing

I was laying on the floor next to my toddlers’ bed, his hand in mine, when he randomly asked me, “What does God say when we disobey?”

I was surprised and amused and stumbled through an answer.

I’ve been asking myself the same question since. Our answer tells us a lot about what we believe about God’s nature and His relationship with us.

I think the phrases “sin separates us from God” and “God can’t be in the presence of sin” still echo in many Christians’ minds. These phrases come from places in the OT (Ezekiel 14:3-11; Isaiah 59:1, 2) where Israel put up idols in their hearts and turned from God. But in both passages (when you brave reading through the punishment, the anger, and removal of specific rebellious people from God’s chosen ones) you see that God’s goal is “that [He] may lay hold of the hearts of Israel” and “that they may be [His] people and [He] may be their God” (Ezekiel 14:3-11). Even in these passages God is pursuing closeness with His people.

So what does God say when we disobey? Does He feel anger toward us, dish out punishment, and weigh whether He should just cut us out from His chosen people completely?

Absolutely not. He has already felt and done all of that to Jesus. In our place.

Feeling shame about going to church, praying, reading the Bible, and worshiping God in general are signs that we still believe that our sin separates us from God – that God and I aren’t on good terms. But that’s literally why Jesus died – that we may have peace with God through Christ (Romans 5:1).

The sin that separates us from God is the sin that is not punished – after all, justice is an important part of God’s goodness. But for believers the sin has already been punished in Christ.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Confidence in the security of our relationship with God is what leads to ever deepening relationship and true heart change and obedience.

“I’m not exactly sure what God says when we disobey,” I said slowly to my toddler, “But I think He might say ‘I love you and I want what’s best for you. That’s why I sent Jesus to die for your sins so you can be friends with Me even though you disobey.’”