It always amazes me that every evil deed has a
good reason for it. Whether it’s a wayward husband who blames his wife for his violent
behaviour, or a national tyrant, like Syria’s Assad, who massacres his own
people ostensibly to maintain order. A good end
apparently justifies any
horrific means.
In reality everyone knows the husband is
covering up his desire to maintain a perverse lifestyle, or Assad is rationalizing
his determination to cling to power. It’s only the deranged and psychopath who take delight in violence and misery for
its own sake.
The fact that the majority of evildoers must
justify their actions, points to recognition of the depravity of their actions in the first place. This in
turn suggests a universal moral code with which even the most wicked can identify.
The Bible indicates that God is aware of the
difference between convenient excuses to justify sin and genuine remorse for
it. Saul was full of reasons and excuses for his disobedience and prevarication, and it lost him the kingdom; worse
still, he forfeited God’s
forgiveness.
David sin’s of adultery and murder
were greater than Saul’s wiliness, yet he received forgiveness. His repentance was real: “my sin is always
before me,” David was haunted by conviction of his sin, making him aware of the
sinfulness of his heart: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my
mother conceived me” (Psalm 51).
Repentance
is a condition for forgiveness. Lip service to repentance won’t cut it, yet we
practice it often: “Yes it was wrong, but . . .” as we rationalize our wrong
behaviour. We feel justified, and the episode is soon and too easily forgotten.
On
the other hand, genuine remorse maintains its grip on the sinner; for the
Christian who sins against God, it is an agony—until His forgiveness sets him
free. As David discovered: “The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
