Bible For Foreigners

Sins of Omission

There are two kinds of sins. One is that of commission (sins

that we commit) and the other of omission (things we omit). The

sin of omission is the failure to do the things we know we should

do. It is being committed every day when we fail to pray for our

cities and governments (James 4:17). We might ask ourselves

this question, “If it were up to us to be responsible in prayer for

our city’s welfare, would our prayers be sufficient for that task?”

This will reveal to us that the lack is not on God’s part, but on our

part, in that we do not pray diligently. It will take more than a few

times of praying, “God bless America,” for our country to have a

real revival and turn from its wickedness. It will take real intercessory

prayer and spiritual warfare for the victory to be won.

God is not responsible for the tragedies in our homes, cities

and country. We are responsible. Ezekiel 22:30-32 says, And I

sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not

destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out

mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the

fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon

their heads, saith the Lord God. From this verse we can see

that it is our evil ways that bring destruction, not God. Destruction

is simply the result of sin. How terrible to blame God for

tragedy and disaster! It is man’s nature to do this, because it is

much easier to blame God than to take responsibility for his own

failures and sins. Ezekiel 33:20 states, Yet ye say, The way of

the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you

every one after his ways. We see the Israelites were guilty of the

same sin of blaming God for His alleged injustice, instead of see32

ing their own sins. They were God’s people, yet they were full of

sin. Today we find the same scene. Many of God’s people are the

very ones blaming God for their tragedies, losses of loved ones,

sicknesses, sorrows, etc. They are blinded to their sin, as it has

taken a subtle form of self-righteousness. They feel if they attend

church regularly and give their tithes, they have fulfilled their obligations

to God. They do not recognize their complacency and

their love for the world, as many of the clergy have allowed

them to bring the “world” into the church.

One of the greatest ills in the church today is the mixture of

the church and the world. The church is no longer separated from

the world, but looks just like the world. The world does not recognize

Christians because they do the same thing the world does.

They eat and drink the same things, go to the same places, etc. In

Exodus 12:38 we find an account of a people called the “mixed

multitude.”

The background of this account tells about Israel being led

out of Egyptian bondage by Moses. When they left, some of the

Egyptians who had married the Israelites left with them. Also there

were those that were half-Egyptian and half-Israelite. The Old

Testament has many accounts of “types” that are lessons for us

today. 1 Corinthians 10:5-6 says, But with many of them God

was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we

should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. The example

we are to see here is a lesson of what happens to those who

are not true Israelites at heart. We see in Numbers 11 that after

the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness awhile, they began

to gripe and complain. This spirit spawned from those that were

of the mixed multitude. The mixed multitude were those in the

outermost part of the camp. They didn’t come to the center of the

camp where the tabernacle was pitched, as they didn’t want to be

exposed by the glory of the Lord. Their allegiance soon waned

under trial and persecution, and they longed to go back to Egypt

where the fish, cucumbers, melons, garlics, leeks, and onions were.

Soon their lust for these things overcame them, and they were

destroyed by the fire of God and the wrath of the Lord.

Today we find the same problem in the church. The lust for

the things of this world, plus uncommitted hearts that contain a

mixture of this world and the Lord’s kingdom, will ultimately bring

the judgment of God. It was not God’s intention for Israel to

wander in the wilderness for 40 years, as He wanted to bring

them to the promised land that was flowing with milk and honey.

It is the same today; He wants to bless His children, but their

rebellion and lack of commitment do not allow Him to do so. The

Word of God proves we have a loving and just God. As we seek

Him and grow in His Word, we will not suffer His judgment on

sin. The judgment of the wrath of God comes only upon sin in this

world. If we have Jesus in our hearts and have been forgiven of

our sins and have renounced the things of this world, then we

have no need to fear the wrathful judgment of God. It will not fall

on God’s children who are striving to follow Him. Praise God!

In concluding, let us look to God to prove all things. Proving

what is acceptable unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). Only

by coming before Him with a teachable spirit can we be taught the

truth and recognize error. As we become more acquainted with

the real, we will be able to better discern the counterfeit. The

devil has a counterfeit for every truth of God. However, we need

not fear being deceived if we are in fellowship with the Lord, for

He will deliver us from every evil as we continue to follow Him.

Our daily prayer should be "Lord, cleanse me from all error

and renew my mind. Lord, I desire to know the truth even if it

means correction and embarrassment for me. Change my thoughts

and heart to be your thoughts."