Here’s a ‘popular’ topic to delve into. One that is sure to win me some views and possibly go viral. A subject that won’t ever make people roll their eyes. A discussion that folks typically consider deeply relevant to their lives.

The topic that we’re jumping into? That would be: sin.

Forgive me for the tongue-in-cheek sarcasm. The truth is you’ll never see #sin trending on social media. But humor is my way of handling a topic that might otherwise give you the impression that I’m a holier-than-thou type who thinks she has the right to tell you how to live your life. I’m not and I don’t.

 But I felt compelled to share some liberating insights about the topic from my Bible reading this morning in the book of Ezekiel.

For a quick background on the particular verse we’re diving into, God gives the prophet Ezekiel a detailed and grand vision of the temple that would be built on Mount Zion. Ezekiel sees the radiance of God’s glory over the temple and falls face down in awe. And then God says these interesting words to Ezekiel: “Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sin.” (Ezekiel 43: 10).

What?? Aren’t people ashamed of their sin when you describe their sins to them? But God says that Ezekiel should describe the temple to the people. It was not the laundry list of their sins that would bring contrition, but the depiction of the beauty and glory of God’s presence in the temple.

Friend, we often believe that focusing on sin is the way to repentance. We pay such myopic attention to our sins that we lose sight of the grander vision of who God is.

But could it be that focussing on the Lord’s goodness and His holiness and His righteousness and His grace brings us to our knees in repentance?

We pay such myopic attention to our sins that we lose sight of the grander vision of who God is.

I love how speaker Jackie Hill Perry describes this shift of focus in a panel discussion curated by The Gospel Coalition. She says: “Growing up in church, it seemed like the only reason I was to turn from [a lifestyle of sin] was because I should do right, I shouldn’t go to hell, I shouldn’t do wrong. But in coming to Christ, I wondered, if anyone had told me about the beauty of God, if I would have repented much quicker. They never cast a vision for ‘This is the reason for your turning. This is the Person you’re turning to and this is the Person who will give you hope and this is the Person will give you the power to flee from temptation.’”

Turning from sin isn’t just a matter of shoulds and shouldn’ts. Turning from sin is firstly about turning to God.

It reminds me of the hymn, “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.” The lyrics go on to say, “Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.” When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we stop fixating on the things that otherwise seem enticing and alluring.

Friend, maybe you and I are dealing with a pattern of sin in our lives. Or maybe we’ve been trying to show someone whom we love the error of their ways. But is it time to pivot the focus of the conversation? Maybe it’s time we honed in on the beauty, goodness, holiness, grace, and glory of God instead of harping on our wrongdoings. In beholding that magnificence, we are brought to our knees in conviction, confession, and repentance.

Of course, it’s still going to be painful, difficult, and costly as we cut out what is displeasing to the Lord.

But in beholding the perfect holiness of God first, we are broken over the grievousness of our sin and brought to our knees.

In gazing upon the wonderous power of God first, we gather strength to walk down that narrow path of righteousness.

In pondering on the absolute goodness of God first, we perceive that the sin which promised fulfillment will never deliver and that only God is able to meet every longing of our hearts.

Would you mind if we prayed together?

Father God, You know all about the areas of sin I’ve been struggling with and how I’ve wrestled with You to help me overcome those failures. But Father, I ask that in Your grace You would help me focus on You first. When I look at Your holiness, I’m brought to my knees in repentance. When I behold Your righteousness, I understand that You give me the power to change and be like Jesus. When I reflect on Your absolute goodness, I realize that no one but You can satisfy me. I pray that instead of my myopic focus on my sin, I would turn to my gaze toward You and You would fill my vision. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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