Knowing Better

It has probably happened to all of us. If it hasn’t happened yet it will sooner or later. We find ourselves telling our kids what our parents have said to us, “You should have known better!” As a kid I could figure out how I was supposed to ‘just know;’ but as a parent I too have expected my kids to be able to ‘figure it out’ and know better.

The experiences of life are a wonderful teacher to help us all connect our experiences and learn from our mistakes. Over time we also learn to apply what we have been told in new and unique situations that keep us out of trouble. Still for others such ‘common sense’ is not so common.

A day is coming when regardless of our age or life experience, and in spite of of how much common sense we may or may not have we may be told, “You should have know better!” If we hear our heavenly Father should say these words to us we won’t have any excuses to hide behind.

• [33] "But this is the new covenant I will make . . . on that day," says the Lord. "I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [34] And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, 'You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me," says the Lord. "And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins."
  Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NLT)

No one will even be able to say, “But that’s Old Testament and doesn’t apply to us.” No excuses are valid. Paul affirms that God has in fact written His law upon even the hearts of outsiders who were not brought up to know God (see Romans 2:14-15). When we stand before God to be judged for our sin we will all know that the way we lived broke God’s law through the things we said and did.

I’m glad God has promised to forgive our sins and never bring them up again. However, this does not mean God will just overlook our sin or ignore it; this is a promise for those who know God. Jesus has made the way for us to be forgiven; only through Him can our sins be wiped clean. Thank you Lord for making my sin clear to me, and showing me how to be forgiven by knowing You and Your Son Jesus.