In my previous post, I discussed the futility of the Law. Before that, I discussed our need for a Savior. If you’ve read both of these posts, you may come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter whether or not we sin. In fact, because there is no consequence for our sin, it seems that we can just sin as much as we want!

Well, yes and no…

In 1 Corinthians 10:23, Paul writes, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive.” (emphasis added)

Though there is no eternal consequence for our sins if we have been saved, we still live in a world of the flesh, and this world has its own consequences. Your God may not hold your sins against you, but your parents, siblings, spouse, children, friends, and coworkers probably will.

And then there is the matter of your relationship with your God. Sure, the Law no longer holds sway over you. But as you seek to know your God, after having discovered your need for his forgiveness and salvation, how will you grow your relationship with him? Certainly you cannot grow closer to the heart of our Holy God if your heart continues to relish in sin. Your Father in Heaven won’t hold it against you, but it also won’t win you any brownie points…

Which leads me to my final point, found in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10: “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (emphasis added) And in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (emphasis added)

We have been given the promise of God’s riches in Heaven. What form those will take is up for debate, but I’m guessing they’re pretty good. After all, all that is was made by the hand of God. But these riches will be doled out based on what we have done here on Earth. When we are judged in front of the throne of God, Jesus will stand in our stead and his blood will have paid the price for our evil. But after we enter the kingdom, we will still face judgement in front of our Savior, who will judge each of us worthy of a portion of his inheritance based on the merits of our deeds here on Earth.

Now, I’m not one to be motivated by rewards like that. I realize that I may be facing the prospect of living in a shack in Heaven for eternity while some of you enjoy mansions with koi ponds and walk-in refrigerators. To me, just coming to the realization that I will get to spend an eternity in the presence of my awesome Creator is enough, whether I sleep under the roof of a palace or under the stars. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” My treasure is a lifetime spent with my God, knowing that he cares for me, that he desires a relationship with me, and that, despite all that I have done that would be despicable in his eyes, he sees only a perfectly created being, deserving of his love and acceptance.

As I often do when describing my relationship with God, I recall my relationship with my dad when I was growing up. I don’t recall ever really fearing my dad’s punishment. Sure, I got my fair share of talkings to and the occasional spanking. Once in a very great while my dad would even raise his voice. But it wasn’t ever fear of punishment that kept me in line and wanting to do well. It was the look of pride and joy in his eyes when I accomplished something. And it was the disappointment I saw when I stepped out of line. I didn’t toe the line because I didn’t want to be punished, but because I loved my dad too much to cause him that disappointment. I wanted to do what was right because I wanted to do something for my dad to express my love for him. And in the context of our relationship with our God, I’m not saying that we have to show God that we love him by obeying…it’s more that, in our limited capacity to express ourselves in a loving manner to our God, we only have a few things that we can do. The Law no longer holds sway over us, so please don’t try to show your God you love him by growing out your forelocks and sleeping in a different bed from your wife for one week out of each month. But show him you love him by listening to the Holy Spirit as he talks to you. Let your God into your life and follow his advice. Commune with him. Ask, Seek, and Knock.

We may indeed have a license to sin. It may be possible for us to live our entire lives pursuing the desires of the flesh and still spend eternity in Heaven with our God. But I would wager that a life spent indulging in sin will lead us away from our Heavenly Father. It will lead us into hardships and difficulties in this life. It may ultimately lead us away from the Father completely, such that Heaven is no longer in our future. But really, it’s not the fear of punishment that ultimately keeps us from sinning, it’s fully embracing a close relationship with our God that naturally results in a reduction in sin in our lives. Do it for love.