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Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

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When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

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The nest was destroyed, and the poor bird lay bleeding and exposed!”I thought: Surely I shall die in my nest!” Job 29:18
Job’s nest was very comfortable–and appeared to be very secure. It was on high–and not to be easily reached. He knew that death could reach it–but he thought that nothing else would disturb it.His conduct was consistent,his conscience was quiet;God was his Father, andprovidence was his friend.

“I thought: Surely I shall die in my nest!”But, alas! Suddenly a ‘storm’ arose–the nest was destroyed, and the poor bird lay bleeding and exposed!No earthly nest is out of danger! Temporal comforts are only lent to us. The higher the tree in which we build–the more exposed to the whirlwind and the storm!Here on earth–we have no continuing city. In one moment–our fine nest may be devastated! Let us therefore endeavor to leave our matters fully with the Lord–and learn to be content with His appointments.We must die. But when, and where, and how–should be left with the Lord.Five minutes after death–it will matter very little whether we died on a bed of down, in a luxurious mansion, and surrounded by kind friends–OR as a poor diseased beggar, dying alone in squalor!Present comforts may all leave us, and our soft nest may be scattered to the winds–but nothing can disturb our salvation and future glory!
“These all died in faith–and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth!” Hebrews 11:13″They were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a heavenly city for them!” Hebrews 11:16

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These Olympians, how, how majestic they are, but only for a moment.
They start training when they are four and five years old, they never do anything but train until they’re twenty two, they run a nine second race for a medal they hang up and that’s it!

Cannot, you give equal for eternal things?

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The following is taken from Paul Washer’s Truth About Man Bible Study which is highly recommend for church Bible Study, families, homeschool or Personal Study.

The Sinfulness of Sin by Paul Washer.

To begin our study of man’s personal participation in Adam’s rebellion, we must have a correct understanding of the nature or character of sin. Therefore it is necessary that we study the many attributes and manifestations of sin as they are revealed in the Scriptures. In doing so, we will discover that sin is much more than an error in moral judgment, even much more than disobedience to some impersonal law.

Sin is a crime against the person of God. In our study we must do more than simply define terms. We must regain a biblical understanding of the sinfulness of sin. We live in a world and worship in churches that, for the most part, no longer understand the heinous nature of sin and so we must endeavor to rediscover what has been lost. Our understanding of God and of the greatness of our Salvation in Christ depends upon it.

Sin is Always against God

Sin is always first and foremost a sin against God and an affront to His person. To disobey a divine command is to clench the fist and wag it in the face the One who gives life to all and rules over all. Today, if people speak of sin at all, they speak of sin against man, or sin against society, or even sin against nature, but rarely do we hear of sin against God. A person is thought to be good, because they have good relations with their fellowman, even though they live in total disregard for God and His will. It is often asked how God can judge an atheist, who is a good man, and yet we are blind to the fact that any man who denies His Creator and renders nothing to the One who gives him all things cannot be good. The Scriptures record that King David lied to his people, committed adultery, and even orchestrated the murdered of an innocent man.

And yet when confronted with his sins, he cried out to God, “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4). David knew that all sin is first and foremost sin against God. Until one understands this truth, they can never understand the heinous nature of sin.

Sin is Failure to Love God

The greatest of all sins is the violation of the greatest of all commands: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Christ declared, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15), therefore, all disobedience is a demonstration of our lack of love toward God. For this reason, when the apostle Paul sought to prove the depravity of mankind in the first three chapters of the book of Romans, he referred to Adam’s race as “haters of God” (Romans 1:30). No greater indictment could be made against fallen man. Not loving God is at the very heart of all rebellion. It should also be noted that a man might be very religious and conscientious of divine law and duty, and yet be a terrible sinner before God, if his obedience is prompted by anything other than love for God.

Sin is Failure to Glorify God

The Scriptures declare that man was created for the glory of God and that all that man does, even the most menial tasks of eating and drinking should be done for God’s glory (I Corinthians 10:31). For man to glorify God is for him to esteem the supremacy and worth of God above all things, to take joy in God and be satisfied in Him above all things, and to live before God with the reverence, gratitude, and worship that is due Him. Sin is the very opposite of glorifying God. When man sins he becomes the opposite of what he was created to be. A sinful man is a creature who has dislocated himself and perverted the very reason for his existence. He has replaced God with self and God’s will with self-determination. Paul the apostle writes, “When they knew God, they glorified him not as God,” and “They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 1:21, 25). Sin’s roots go much deeper that what is seen on the surface. It is man’s refusal to acknowledge God’s right as God. It is man’s determination to set himself above his Creator, usurp His throne, and steal His glory. Sin is fundamentally a refusal to glorify God as God, and it manifests itself anytime that man seeks his own glory above God’s.

Sin is Godless and Ungodly

The word godlessness denotes a refusal to acknowledge God as God, a desire to live a “godless” existence, free from His sovereignty and law. The word ungodliness denotes a refusal to be conformed to the character and will of God, a desire for moral depravity rather than likeness to God. It has been said that the greatest compliment that may be paid to another person is to desire to be “with” them and be “like” them. Sin reveals an inward desire to live “without” God and to be “unlike” God. This is a great affront to God!

Sin is Rebellion and Insubordination

In I Samuel 15:23 the Scriptures declare: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry…” The word “rebellion” is translated from the Hebrew word meri, which means to be contentious, rebellious, or disobedient towards. The word “insubordination” is translated from the Hebrew word patsar, which literally means “to press or push.” It denotes one that is pushy, insolent, arrogant, and presumptuous. There are no small sins, because all sin is rebellion and insubordination. To practice any form of rebellion is as evil as partaking in some pagan or demonic ritual. To practice any form of insubordination is as evil as partaking in gross iniquity or rendering worship to a false god.

Sin is Lawlessness

In I John 3:4, the Scriptures declare, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” The word “lawlessness” is translated from the Greek word anomía [a = without, no + nómos= law]. To practice “lawlessness” is to live “without law” or as though God had never revealed His will to mankind. A person may “practice lawlessness” by openly defying the rule and law of God, or by simply being unconcerned and willingly ignorant. In either case, the person is showing contempt for God and His Law. The abominable nature of “practicing lawlessness” is seen in the fact that the antichrist is referred to as the “man of lawlessness” (II Thessalonians 2:3).

Sin is Treachery

The word “treachery” denotes a deceitful and unfaithful act against another. Throughout the Scriptures, treachery is seen as being an aspect found in all sin (Ezekiel 18:24), in rebellion (Isaiah 48:8), in forsaking the true God for idols (I Chronicles 5:25), and in any form of apostasy or turning away from God (Psalm 78:57). All sin a betrayal of the One who created us and lovingly sustains our lives.

Sin is an Abomination

If only one thing could be said about sin, it should be said that above all things sin is an abomination to God. An abomination before the Lord is a foul, disgusting, abominable thing. It is detestable and loathsome to God and an object of His hatred (Proverbs 6:16). In the Scriptures, all sin is an abomination and to sin is to act abominably (Ezekiel 16:52). Proverbs 28:9 declares that “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination,” and Proverbs 15:8-9 declares that the lifestyle and sacrifice of the wicked are an abomination. All idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:25) and any unjust act (Deuteronomy 25:16) is an abomination before the Lord, as well as any person who is devious (Proverbs 3:32; 15:26), a liar (Proverbs 12:22), perverse in heart (Proverbs 11:20), or proud in heart (Proverbs 16:5). In Revelation 21:8, 27, the Scriptures conclude with the warning that the abominable and those who practice abominations will suffer eternal punishment.

Sin is Missing the Mark

The most common Hebrew word for sin is chata, which means to miss the mark, miss the way, or go wrong. In Judges 20:16, we read that the men of Benjamin could “sling a stone at a hair and not miss [chata], and in Proverbs 19:2, we read, “He who hurries his footsteps errs or misses the way [chata]. In the New Testament, the most common Greek word for sin is hamartáno, which may also be translated to miss the mark, err, be mistaken, or wander from the path. According to the Scriptures, the mark or goal toward which man is to aim is the glory of God. Any thought, word or deed that does not have the glory of God as its chief end is sin. It is important to note that sin [chata or hamartáno] is never seen as an innocent mistake or honest error, rather it is always a willful act of disobedience resulting from man’s moral corruption and rebellion against God.

Sin is Trespassing the Boundary

The word “transgress” is translated from the Hebrew word abar which means to cross or pass over, to pass through, or to by pass. To transgress God’s command is to go beyond what is permitted by God’s commands. It is to ignore the restrictions imposed upon us by God’s law and to run beyond its fence. In the New Testament, the word “transgress” is translated from the Greek word parabaíno, which means to go by the side of, to go passed, to pass over, or to step over. In Matthew 15:2-3 is found an excellence example of parabaíno: The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples break [parabaíno] the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And Jesus answered them, “Why do you yourselves transgress [parabaíno] the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

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“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23

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How often and how deeply David was hurting, almost constantly in varying degrees and through various circumstances. At times it was because of enemies in fast pursuit, breathing down his neck to kill him. At other times, his hurt was from the rage of guilt and misery of conscience hounding him because of grievous sins. His hurting at times was the result of betrayal from either a son, a trusted solider or betrayal from his own heart, which produced the deepest emotional sorrow imaginable.

At the heart of his hurts, one thing set David apart from most of us–he was remarkable in his response to the hurts in his life, remarkable specifically in how much he would become transparent before God in specifically telling the Lord what he was feeling and what he was thinking. He did not hold it inside, letting it boil under the surface, only to explode later. He did not generally let it fester and build like an infected boil that finally has to be lanced. He did not keep it penned up quietly withheld like a damn holding back water, only for the damn to finally break.

No, David let it out. He let it out through the means of expression in prayer. He told God how he felt truly. He told the Lord how he felt fully. The Psalms are often expressions of this particularly. David expressed just exactly how he was hurting. It is amazing just to read each Psalm in search of what David exactly said to God about what he felt when he was really needy. Just a few examples:

I have many enemies- Ps. 3:1

I cried aloud 3:4

I was in distress 4:1

Consider my groaning 5:1

I am languishing 6:2

My bones are troubled 6:2

Soul is greatly troubled 6:3

I’m weary from my groaning 6:6

I flood my bed with tears 6:6

See my affliction 9:13

There’s sorrow in my heart all day 13:2

I find no rest 22:2

I am lonely and afflicted 25:16

The troubles of my heart are enlarged 25:17

I cried to you for help 30:2

I plead for mercy 30:8

Rescue me speedily 31:2

You have seen my affliction 31:7

You have seen the distress of my soul 31:7

Look at the openness of expression and the extent of blatant, honest verbal communication there. As it dawns on me how blatantly honest David is with God about how he feels, it reveals a big gap between David and me. I ask myself, “Do I express to the Lord in prayer what I am feeling to the degree David did?” The answer is usually “no, I don’t.” I wonder why? Why do I not get as transparent and expressively free to be as open as he did?

I then realize that, to the degree that I become like David in this area, to that degree will I make headway in prayer, in freedom, in intimacy with God, and in knowing the joy of the Lord. When I am hurting, do I do what David did? I ought to go there, but only religious inhibitions or unbelief will hinder me from doing so. I must make myself, force myself out of my comfort zone of carnal personality and do this. It’s a spiritual discipline. I must grow into doing what David did when hurting, if I too want to become more of a man after God’s own heart. That IS how he became a man after God’s own heart.

Like William Wallace in Brave Heart, when I am on the torture table of life feeling my own agonies, can I bring myself to scream to Him, “Freedom! Freedom!”

There was another one who later came in the lineage of David, one of whom it was written, “Who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to Him, who was able to save him through death.” Jesus, our sympathizing Man, also did what his forefather David did–He cried out with all his might when he was hurting.

Oh, to be like David, oh, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer.

When people find that they really want to be truthful or have to be truthful, they often preface their words with such phrases as “Well, to be totally honest . . ” or “To tell you the truth . . . ” or “Quite honestly . . . ” or “Well, candidly, just between you and I . . . ”

I believe it is just such an attitude that David, when he was hurting, brought to God in prayer. He didn’t play religious games; he didn’t try to impress God with somehow praying acceptable prayers; he became very real, very honest, and very transparent.

Hear again are some other honest words and confessions in the Psalms:

My eye is wasted from grief – 31:9

I have been forgotten like one who has died – 31:12

I hear the whispering of many – 31:13

They scheme together against me – 31:13

They plot to take my life – 31:13

Let me not be put to shame – 31:17

Day and night Your hand was heavy upon me – 32:4

My strength is dried up – 32:4

It’s one thing to read David writing such things, but we must remember that he was actually saying these words out loud to God in prayer. When are we this honest with God and with ourselves?

Picture a lady who has a skin problem. She calls a friend in another city who is a determatologist just to get advice. “Describe to me your situation with your skin.” ‘Well, I’ve always had fair skin and I really want it to be better; I wash my face well every night and I like how it feels; I think it might be better now, but I just want it to improve and any imperfections be gone.”

Then there’s another lady. She calls the friend, who then asks, “What’s the problem with your skin?” “Well, there is acne that has developed on my forehead for some reason; there is also extra dry and flaky skin all over both cheeks; then I have ugly wrinkles developing around my mouth, and also my nose develops redness and is extra tender most of the time.”

Of these two, which one is going to get any real help from the expert? Only the second one. She was fully and specifically honest.

How will we get the kind of help from God’s grace through prayer if we don’t pray as David did?

If we are anything in prayer, let’s be honest with the Lord Jesus when we pray. Let’s tell the Father exactly what we are feeling and experiencing.

How about beginning in prayer by saying, “Lord, I’m here, and to be totally honest, . . . ”

Full honesty and unlimited expression in prayer are the means to freedom, release, peace, help, a new and right perspective, and fresh faith & hope. Why did David always going on with God? Why was he able to always worship as he did? Why did he fully become the man he was? Because his heart was honest with God and he expressed it freely.

By Mack Tomlinson

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These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. – Acts 17:11

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. – John 14:15

Below is a Serom By Paul Washer, I highly Recommend you listen to it, Put it on your Ipod or something! It’s the most popular sermon on the internet, and it would bless you greatly!

Another Short Video on the Topic.

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Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:8

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