Our sin catches up with us
Scripture (Romans 2:5-11 ESV): “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.”
Devotion: Ever felt like you’re getting away with something? Maybe it’s cutting corners at work, or telling a little white lie to avoid trouble. We all have. It’s like sneaking biscuits from the tin, thinking no one will notice and stashing them in your room. But here’s the thing, every action has its consequence, whether we see it right away or not. The consequences can be either good or bad, it depends on the action. Paul here gives us the ultimate wake-up call. He points out how we, with our stubborn hearts, often think we’re dodging the bullet, that our sins don’t actually matter. But in reality, we’re just stacking up trouble for later. The day will come when our heaped up sins will catch up with us. Ultimately God will judge us according to our works.
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Paul splits the crowd into two: on the one hand, there are those who chase after what’s good, and they will get never-ending life. On the other hand are those who chase after whatever they think is good, turning their backs on the truth for a moment’s gain. The first lot, they’re in for a treat—eternal life. The second? Not so much. They’re in for a rough ride. And it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from—God doesn’t play favorites.
The problem of course is that none of us belong to the first lot. There are none at all, apart from Jesus who actually fully chase only after good. Our sin condemns us before God, and when we are truly honest with ourselves, we deserve to be in the second lot. We deserve eternal wrath and fury for “there is no one good, not even one”.
Except Jesus.
Jesus stepped into this mess to offer us a way out. He saw us, biscuits in hand, and instead of letting us face the rotten outcome alone, He offered Himself. Through Him, we’ve got a chance to change our ways, to stop stacking trouble and start building a future with Him at the center. That is why Christians are “in Christ”. We get to have his perfect life, and he takes our rotten life on himself.
Prayer: Lord, it’s easy to think we’re flying under the radar with our “little sins”. But You see it all, and You care deeply about where those choices lead us. Thank You for Jesus, for giving us a way to turn it around, to trade our selfishness for Your generous gift of life. Help us to live lives that chase after what’s truly good, knowing that in Your fairness, You offer us a hope that’s both just and merciful. Amen.
Challenge for the Day: Take a moment today to consider where you might be “storing up trouble” with small, selfish choices. Pick one area where you can make a shift towards integrity and kindness. Maybe it’s being honest when it’s tempting to stretch the truth, or maybe it’s choosing to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Let that choice reflect your commitment to living a life that’s looking forward, not just to the immediate gratification, but to the eternal reward.