1 John 3:4
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.