I was walking through a museum exhibit about the American Civil War when I came across a chilling item. It was a receipt, like what you might get from a shop. But this was for a slave named Sally, who had been received in good health from a slave trader. We’re horrified by the buying and selling of human beings, but these people were so oblivious to the ugliness of their sin that they kept the receipt!
I shook my head in disgust, not only for the despicable thing they had done, but also for the many times we brandish the receipt for our sins. We illegally download music or films, then refuse to delete them from our playlist. We lust after someone who is not our spouse, then replay the moment in our minds. We lose our cool and belittle a coworker, then brag to our friends how we “put him in his place.” Rather than feel embarrassed for our sins, we wave our receipt in the air and say, “See what I did!”
Real repentance eliminates “look at me” moments. It gladly gives up any ‘profit’ from what was gained (1 Samuel 15:13-14). Saul tried to look honorable when Samuel asked him why he had saved the receipt from his sin. Saul said he “spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle” so that he might “sacrifice them to the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:15). When Samuel refused to play along, Saul finally admitted, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command . . . . Please forgive my sin” (1 Samuel 15:24-25).
Saul’s repentance came too late as Samuel replied, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else” (1 Samuel 15:28). It’s not too late for us. Turn from sin and tear up that receipt.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 5:17-30
More:
Read Luke 19:1-10 to learn what true repentance does with the profits of sin.
Next:
What sin receipts have you been clutching? What will you do to discard them?
tom felten on June 29, 2012 at 11:24 am
So true, Mike. As we live in a culture that often celebrates and laughingly embraces immoral behavior, it’s easy to lose site of the ugliness of our own sin. May we seek God and repent of our sins daily (Psalm 51:10).
mike wittmer on June 29, 2012 at 11:50 am
Tom: as I’m typing this, I remember that the Internet keeps a receipt of every keystroke and click I make on the web. Jesus died for my browser history, and that must transform my browser future!
alli on June 29, 2012 at 5:39 pm
so tru God will not allow us to profit from our sin. I understand now why somethings i thought would bring fruit brought none.
Funny tho i cant relate human trafficking with illegal downloads perhaps being the decendents from slaves myself im a bit too sensitive, however i understand the point sin is sin. it is the same way in the US people think that GOd will continue to bless the nation with wealth that was built on the backs of slave labor, one knowing this would not question our recessions and financial crisises it would seem.
winn collier on July 1, 2012 at 8:20 am
Thanks for reminding me of the gracious gift of repentance, amid all the vileness of sin.