Streams of Tears

"Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed" (Psalm 119:136).

Observing sin can be heart-breaking. I see the temptation, but in my better moments, I see the pain that accompanies sin. I see...

*the unnecessary divorce that will damage the couple and their children
*the couple living together who will never feel secure with each other because they do not trust each other enough to get married
*the homosexual who suffers from depression and HIV
*the resentful and envious woman who cannot enjoy a healthy relationship with family and would-be friends
*the angry man who can not gain the respect of his wife and children because of his volatility
*the drunkard and drug addict who cannot keep a steady job
*the self-righteous man who finds it easy to condemn, difficult to help, and impossible for others to be around
*the self-centered man whose funeral will be a relief to those closest to him

The world is full of the pain of our own choices. The best of us have not lived up to God's ideal for ourselves. We have acted in self-destructive ways. We have hurt each other and ourselves in too many ways to count.

The good news is that God has never been satisfied with our condition. He has been hurting with us and for us. He has been working through His Son who was willing to die to save us from our sins and their consequences. As the apostle Paul wrote, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3-7).