By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
The responsibility for our faults, failures, and mishaps seems to seldom rest upon the shoulders of us alone. It seems only natural to justify our behavior by displacing responsibility. It’s that time of the month… I didn’t get enough sleep… I had a difficult childhood… You don’t know how badly I’ve been hurt… I need more time… It’s just who I am… Heck, we even get all spiritual with our excuses. That’s not my gifting… God hasn’t called me to that… Satan has been attacking me. OUCH! Shifting the blame is not a new development. It’s been around since the beginning of time.
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:8-13)
I have to admit that I’m a lot like Adam and Eve. I, too, go on the defense when I’m caught in sin. My gut reaction is to look for a scapegoat, to shuffle blame, even if it’s only in my mind.
But why? Why is it so hard for mankind to accept responsibility?
Three words… Sin is heavy. We cannot bear the burden of it alone.
And God knew it. Although there were some pretty hefty consequences for Adam and Eve’s disobedience, it was God Himself who made restitution for their sin.
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)
There is only one way to get a skin from an animal. (Just stating the obvious.) God showed Adam and Eve the severity of their actions and exposed the ugly truth—sin—no matter how small—always results in a death.
Thousands of years later, God did it again. Only this time, He covered over mankind’s sin with His own precious blood.
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
Jesus Christ, the pure spotless Lamb of God, in a shift of blame, paid the ultimate price for our sins, knowing full well, we couldn’t carry sin’s burden alone.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Thank you Jesus for carrying my burden, knowing full well that I could never bare it alone.
