Did you ever have one of ‘those’ days? I know you have and I have, and everybody else in the world has experienced ‘oops’ days when nothing goes right. Last week, every effort I put forth to get the Sustaining Word out turned into an oops. For those who receive it via email, I began with an apology “Oops! Last week’s title should have been. . .” I can make corrections on the web-page and Facebook after I publish it, but not the email. Monday as I hit the send button, I noticed one paragraph was out of order and made no sense. I have no idea how it happened because I had reread it only a minute prior. For this one I sent a corrected version. I have a good editor but on occasions, we both miss something. It goes through one final edit by my wife after she receives the e-mail on Monday morning. Last week I was sure, with the correction, it was perfect. But it was an oops day and she pointed out two misspelled words. “I give up!”
I know that God causes all things to work together for good (Rom 8:28). So, He put this week’s thought in my heart to turn my bad day into an encouraging thought for you. We not only have oops days in life, but also experience spiritual oops. My early Bible training taught that it was impossible for a believer to sin after the second experience of sanctification, which instantly eradicated the old nature or flesh. Did that ever bring lots of guilt and disappointment trying to live out this incorrect teaching! Finally, the Holy Spirit taught me the truth from scripture and I understood it was a lifetime process. All during life, we will have spiritual oops. My oldest son and I were recently discussing the wonder of God’s grace. In our journey of sanctification throughout life, like an onion the Holy Spirit peels back the layers and exposes non-Christlike issues still in our hearts. He does this so we continue maturing in Christ. As this happens, we appreciate more and more the infinite grace of God. My son was pondering why this keeps happening to him as an adult and a Christian since he was four years old. I told him, “Wait until you reach my age and the Holy Spirit is still uncovering areas in your heart that fall short.”
The KJV and NKJV version gives an incorrect understanding about the believer and sin. Whoever has been born of God does not sin (1 Jn 3:9). The original grammar of this verse indicates a different perspective. Other translations show that it means a believer does not habitually continue to practice sin. This verse does not say it is impossible to sin. We do everything possible through the Holy Spirit not to sin, however because we live in a fallen world and in an imperfect body, we may experience a spiritual oops or as the Bible calls it—sin. That does not mean our relation with Christ has ended. The key is what we do with our oops. John tells us when we sin, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9). Based on my early teaching, my solution was confessing and then staying depressed for a couple of weeks beating myself up. The Holy Spirit showed me that by doing this I was committing more sin because I was trying to add to what Jesus had already accomplished in His finished work.
Not all oops days we encounter in life involve something sinful—car won’t start, then you have a flat tire, and at work someone scratched the door in the parking lot, etc., etc., etc. But beware, Satan can use these to frustrate us to the point we can commit sin. When we encounter spiritual oops, the devil can also tempt us to quit. Most, if not all, of the students I taught have heard me say, “The only way you can fail God is to quit.” Proverbs says, For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again (Pro 24:16). The Message Bible provides a helpful understanding of this verse. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet.
We can call our spiritual oops a mistake, a failure, a slip, an indiscretion, or a peccadillo, but it is sin in the eyes of God. We must never take sin lightly or let Satan make us give up and stay down. Jesus suffered and died for all our sins—spiritual oops. We need only to confess our sins, ask forgiveness, and rise up again. I felt like giving up last week over the continuing errors with the lesson. Instead, I learned from situation, and implemented another step in proofing. But I am sure another oops day will come. I hope I never have another spiritual oops, but as long as I live in this fallen world, I may. But I’ll do the same—confess, rise up again, learn from the experience, and praise God for His wonder grace.
Sustaining Word for the Week: When I fall, I will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds my hand (Psa 37:24).