What have you done? (Gen 3:13)

"Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?'" (Genesis 3:13)

We have been talking about hiding from God, specifically, when Adam and Eve hid themselves from God. We have also been looking at the three questions God posted to Adam and Eve in an attempt to draw them out of their hiding. The third question God asked them was, "What is this you have done?"

In leaving our hiding place and returning to God, we cannot side step the issue of our sin. Adam and Eve had sinned, they had broken a direct command from God, and before they could be restored to God, they had to face their sin. God's conversation with Adam and Eve is similar to Jesus discussion with the Samaritan woman He met at the well. After discussing theology with her, he speaks to the heart of the matter. "Go, call your husband and come here." (John 4:16) He said this knowing full well that she was an adulterer, she had already had five husbands and was now living with a sixth who was not her husband. Jesus loved her and wanted to restore her, but He could not ignore the issue of her sin.

Paul echos the same sentiments when he refers to those who, while desiring to be part of the church, were not willing to first confront their sin. "I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced." (2 Corinthians 12:21) How many today want the benefits of a "Christian" life but are not willing to pay the price to have a "Christian" life. They want to live like a Christian but only if they can ignore the reality of their sins.

Some today don't like to talk about sin; its not positive and uplifting. Others find it hard to reconcile a conviction of sin with the message of a loving God. Yet sin is serious business! Sin interferes with our communion with God. Isaiah said, "our iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." (Isaiah 59:2) Sin also sows death into our lives, "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." (James 1:15) In fact, so serious is the issue of sin that its remedy could be purchased with no less the price then the life and blood of the Son of God. The only remedy for our sin was the death of Jesus on the Cross. Sin is serious business!

But there is good news; the good news is that Jesus did not come to excuse us of our sin but rather to forgive us of our sin. When we confess our sins to the Father, He does not say, "well its not that bad, I'll let you go this time, it's OK" rather He says, "It really is that bad, but I have forgiven you". It is far better to be forgiven then simply excused. King David put it this way, "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!" (Psalm 32:1-2)

When God convicts us of our sin, it's not to condemn us for our sins, but rather to give us an opportunity to be forgiven for our sins. If we are honest in answering the question, "What have you done?" then God will be faithful to forgive us for what we have done.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

More to come... David Robison

hiding, sin, confess, father, god, Adam and Eve, David Robison, The Robe