Are We Mourning?

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June 12, 2011


“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death”  (II Corinthians 7:10)

If we are mourning, why is it that we are mourning?  Is it because a favorite show is being canceled?  Is it because in this economy we have to cut back on things we like?  Why are we mourning? Jesus said in the part of the Sermon on the Mount that we call the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).  Jesus wasn’t talking about mourning for things in general.  He wasn’t even talking about mourning for the loss of loved ones.

Because the Beatitudes deal with our inner attitude, we know they are talking about mourning for our sins and for others’ sins as well.  When we mourn over sins, we have the same attitude that our heavenly Father has.  In the time of Noah, God saw the wickedness and the sin that was everywhere.  “The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:6).  Man’s sins grieved God back then, as they do now.

We dwell in a world where sin seems to be normal.  We tend to lessen certain sins, at least to excuse ourselves.  We say when we sin, “Oops, I made a mistake”.  Our culture has declared that certain things that the Word of God calls sins are not sins.  We are told that they are different “life styles.”  People lie, cheat, steal, and kill, and many feel no remorse.

What is our reaction to sin?  Do we turn our backs?  Or do we cover our eyes, ears, and mouths like the three monkeys?  How do we view sin?  How does God?  After all, isn’t our Father a God of grace, mercy, and forgiveness?  Doesn’t grace allow us to continue sinning so that there is more grace?  “What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2).  Romans chapter 6 reminds us that we have had our sinful nature done away with.  Sin is no longer our master.  We have a new master, God!

John said it right that we sin and that we must confess our sins to our Father (I John 1:8-2:1).  I picture our Father weeping when we sin and rejoicing when we acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness.  Our Father is faithful and will forgive us.

image “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (II Corinthians 7:10).

The death of Jesus is paradoxical in that we mourn over His death because of our sins and we rejoice because His death frees us from the bondage of sin and death.  Godly sorrow always ends with joy because it ends with Christ and our being forgiven.  There is much that causes us to mourn, but within us we have the Spirit of God and we receive God’s love, and we are truly comforted.

Let us open our eyes and ears to the sins around us and in us.  Let us open our mouths to confess our own sins to the Father.  Let us be like God and grieve over sin.  Like God, let us help others to turn from sin to grace because of our love for them.

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Graceful, loving Father, we are grateful for the forgiveness that is granted us through Your Son.  We sin and we acknowledge it, and we accept Your promise that You are quick to forgive.  Help us never to stop mourning for our sins and the sins of others. Work with us that we never take forgiveness for granted or view it as something owed us.  In the name of Jesus our Savior, Amen.              ~ Ed

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Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado                                 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ed Wittlif, former preacher of Albert Lea Church of Christ in Albert Lea, Minnesota, is a University Church of Chirst member.