Articles
Life After Sin
Most are familiar with the story of David and Bathsheba. It was a terrible moment in David’s life. As a consequence of David’s sin, he had Uriah put on the front line where he would definitely be killed. He played deceitfully by calling Uriah home while the battle continued. He lied to himself. He abused his power. The child born to David and Bathsheba died. What a train wreck for David. I have always wondered if he thought to himself, “Man, that was a dumb thing to do. What was I thinking? Look at what it has cost me.”
The question is, “Is there life after sin?” The answer is yes! David and Bathsheba had another son. His name is Solomon. While what David did was horrendous, there was life after sin for him. It is also true for us. No matter what the sin is, if we face it like David eventually did, there is life after sin.
There is life after sin because of God’s love. God never stopped loving David.
There is life after sin because he sought a clean heart and new spirit. Yes, he will say his sin almost melted his bones and he lost his vitality (Psalms 32: 3-4). He says his sin is ever before him, but he cries to God for life after sin. He cries for a clean heart, a steadfast spirit, restored joy of salvation and deliverance from bloodshed. God does forgive David, and he becomes a great king. See, there was life after sin. After sin, David walked in the ways of the Lord. Many followed his path. Because he returned to the Lord, he was a great example to others.
There is life after sin because of forgiveness. God will not leave us without forgiveness. God wants to forgive. He sent His only son to provide a sacrifice for us. There is life after death. We once were dead in trespasses and sin, but He makes us alive (Eph. 2:1). It is by His grace and our faith that He makes forgiveness possible (Eph. 2:4-10). When we come to Him like David, He will make us alive.
It does not matter what the sin is or was, sin need not define us. If we come to God with a broken heart and contrite spirit, He will not despise us. Sin does not have to defeat us, either. Sin only defeats us if we let it. We can rise from the ashes of defeat and be victorious. Christ makes it possible (Rom. 7:25).
The Bible is filled with stories of people who had life after sin. The Bible is a story of how God makes it possible for us to have life after sin. There is not a single sinless person, save Jesus, in the whole book. Even those we call great. But all of those whose faith led them back to God had life after sin. Sin does not get the last word. God does!
Rickie Jenkins
