Thursday, August 20, 2015

God’s Grace to You Displayed in the Hacking of Ashley Madison: “… be sure your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23)

In any and all situations, we Christians have the grace of Christ on display for us to see. 

I hope that both my family and my local church do not tire of hearing me repeat this sentiment over and over.  It is a truth that we believers must absolutely cling to when life is rough and it should be a constant praise of thankfulness when things are going well, but it can also act as a filter through which we view the world and the events of the day. 

When the news broke several days ago that Ashley Madison, the online adultery-facilitating web site, was hacked and that the personal information of all of the users was now potentially open to being disclosed to the public, I did not rejoice. I don’t for one moment condone the activity that this site facilitates and encourages.  And while it is inevitable that these types of hacks and breaches happen, my first thoughts were about the husbands and wives, children and parents whose lives would be tragically effected because of the supposedly secret sins of those who participated in this service.  And today the first celebrity name popped up: Josh Duggar (link).  So again, my thoughts were initially for his, wife, children, family, church, and friends. 

How is this man’s public sin and disgrace evidence of God’s grace to you and to me?  Quite simply, it is this: God is vindicating His word by showing that all things done in darkness will be brought to the light, nothing is said in secret that will not be fully and finally known (Luke 12:2-3).  Or, as the Holy Spirit inspired Moses to put it, “…be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num 32:23) 

God’s grace to you is that if you have any thought that you will avoid having your secret sin exposed, you had better think again.  And even if you manage to eek through this life without being exposed for your lies, your pornography, your covetousness, your gossip, your anger, or your self-righteousness and pride, in the very next instant God will expose your and you will be called to account.  

In so many ways, God is displaying His grace to Josh Duggar today like He did with David thought the mouth of the prophet Nathan. King David, was called out for his sin and had nowhere to hide and no ability to deny the reality of severity of his sin.  David responded with sorrow and repentance and faithfulness to God. 

God is gracious.  It is up to Josh whether or not he will take advantage of God’s gracious unveiling of his sin as David did.  His first step of confession and repentance is a good one (link), but time will tell whether or not his repentance is over the pain and hurt he’s endured or over the sin that he’s committed.

It is up to you and I whether we will see God’s grace in exposing Josh’s sin publically and take advantage of it so that we can respond with repentance for our own hidden sins before such a rebuke is necessary for us.

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