Ecclesiastes 3:18

I'm sure most people have heard at least a little about the Joe Paterno controversy and all the terrible things surrounding it... It terrifies me to realize that we live in a culture where some people are more concerned about their football team than the abuse (and that puts it lightly) of a child. Sometimes I wonder if God regrets his promise to Noah. Destroying the whole human race would look pretty tempting if I were in His place... (Good thing I'm not!)

But as I've judged Paterno and others involved, I have to remember my own sin. God doesn't see Paterno's any differently than He sees mine... Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death." It doesn't specify the severity of sin. The wages for any sin is death. Period.

Ecclesiastes 3:18 says "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals." The writer seems to be venting in this passage. He goes on to say that we have no advantage over the animals and everything is meaningless. Genesis tells us that we have a significant advantage over the animals (Genesis 1:28)! So we have to read the passage in context. Nevertheless, this verse sparked my thought. Before Christ, in our sinful state, we act no differently from the animals. We act based on what feels good or what everyone else is doing... Sounds pretty animalistic.

My point is not to say that we are animals or to create more guilt over our sin. Because the joy and blessing of it all is that God does a work in our hearts. He calls His children and doesn't leave us in the pit of our sin. He breaks the chains that bind us and covers us with His blood. He has paid for our wages! Is Joe Paterno sinful? Absolutely. Am I sinful? Absolutely. Did God forgive me when I repented? Yes. Will God forgive Paterno if he repents? Yes. Don't be too quick to judge others. Yes, what happened was wrong and terrible and disgusting. But my sin was also wrong and terrible and disgusting... And so I take this opportunity to rejoice in what Christ did for me and to praise Him for His glorious grace!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17