Sin’s Dark Shadow Cast Upon the New Year

I awaken to see the sun rise

On the dawning of a new year

Instead of celebrating

My heart is grieved

For sin will be politicized

Celebrated and glorified today

That which God has declared sinful

Will be paraded as something acceptable and good

That which You foretold in Your Word

Will be on display

For today I am living in

A Romans 1 kind of world

That which You have declared evil

Man has declared good

That which is good in Your sight

Has been perverted and called evil

Lord, even some in Your church

May not speak up and stand for the truth

For they fear being branded

As narrow minded, intolerant or bigoted

May I not mistake Your patience

And desire for all to come to repentance

As approval of sin

Or believe that You will not punish un-repented sin

God, You are still upon Your throne

Sovereign, Holy and Righteous

I don’t get to decide for myself what is sin

For You have clearly spoken in Your Word

When I look back and see Christ on the cross

I know what You think of sin

The sinless Son of God was crucified

As He bore my sin and the sin of all mankind

May I remember the punishment and wrath

You poured out upon Your only begotten Son

Because of His sacrifice

I have been forgiven

I have been fitted for heaven

Clothed in the righteousness of Christ

Christ paid my ransom and I have been bought back

From the slave master called sin

Lord give me a heart of compassion

For those still held captive by sin

May I warn the sinner on the broad path

That leads to destruction

Salvation is found in no other name under heaven or earth

By which man can be saved

May I remember that You stand ready to forgive

A repentant sinner who proclaims Christ as Lord

By Susan Wachtel

January 1, 2014

Romans 1:16-32

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.