When I was in grade school, I broke a lot of rules. I talked in class. I move around too much. I didn’t pay attention when others were speaking, even the teacher. I didn’t turn in assignments. I didn’t follow directions. I didn’t pay attention. I moved around too much. I didn’t pay attention. Squirrel!
Long before ADHD was named, I had it. Or should I say, I have it. Looking back on those times it all makes sense now. My behavior was driven my by brain bouncing, not by a character flaw. I am sure I would be on Ritalin if I were a grade school age child now. But I think that would be a shame. I enjoyed such creativity and wonder during those years. There were no bounds to my imagination. It was never very organized or productive, but it sure was fun. My intent was not to break the rules, or disregard the rules. My mind just wouldn’t stay still.
Our text begins with a very simple statement: when we sin we are breaking the law. To put it another way, when we sin we are breaking a rule. This gets under some people’s skin. They want to make their own rules, rules that apply to others, but which they don’t have to keep. They hate it when others cut in line, but they want to be able to cut when they are in a hurry. They hate it when others swerve in traffic, but they themselves swerve and want a pass.
Notice that the text doesn’t say that every infraction of the law is a sin. Every sin is an infraction of the law. But whose law? Sin is God’s domain, so it is God’s law that is being violated when we sin. There are human laws, and cultural laws, and temporary laws, even some of the laws written in Scripture which don’t qualify as one that God establishes for all people in all times. Therefore, when someone breaks one of those laws it isn’t sin.
But there are laws that do meet this criterion, and the LORD has given us ten pretty clear ones which let us in on His standards. Sin is acting like we get to write our own rules and not submitting to the authority of His rules. Sin wants to go its own way.
The question for us is pretty simple. Are we willing to submit to God’s rule in our life? This is THE question of our day, and of every day for that matter. Are we willing to call “sin” what God calls sin? Or do we write our own definition to suit our own inclinations? When the LORD says to not steal, do we rewrite it to exclude the stealing that we do? Or the lusting? Or the dishonoring? Or the lying?
When we start to rewrite, we are getting ready to sin. With God, there are no second drafts. He didn’t make a mistake the first time that we need to correct. We don’t need to add our spin or remove His narrowness. We need to take Him as His Word. Period.
The Arnold Journey 