“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
All sin separates us from God. But that does not mean that all sin is equal here on earth. There is a difference between thinking hateful thoughts about someone, and speaking those thoughts out loud. There is a difference between thinking, “I wish they would die”, and physically killing someone… we know this.
But, even though there are different degrees of sin – thoughts vs. actions – all sin drives us away from our Holy Father. It is because of this gulf of separation that Jesus had to come. This is the very reason He came - Jesus the man was separated for that excruciating time that He carried all our sins to defeat Death. When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, it was far worse than the pain and humiliation of being crucified.
You see, being separated from God the Father is the most painful and terrible thing that can happen to any of us – including to Jesus Himself! The amazingly good news here is this: since Jesus already paid the price, you and I never have to know this awful separation. Today - right now - is as far as we ever have to be from God. It’s only if we choose not to accept His Gift of Salvation that we will know this separation.
Jesus cried out in anguish the very moment the separation occurred. I cannot begin to imagine the eternity of separation that awaits those that do not bow to the Cross of Christ.
#LoveMatters