The Sobering Reality Of Sin And Divine Judgement
To the ends of the earth - acts 5:1-11 (esv) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
2 Corinthians 7:1:
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
Download bulletin
Are you whistling past the graveyard? Whistling past the graveyard is an idiom that suggests a conscious effort to ignore or downplay the seriousness of a threatening circumstance. It implies a false sense of security in situations where acknowledging reality would be more appropriate.
Just outside of Jerusalem was a burial ground that contained the bodies of a husband and wife, Ananias and Sapphira. The news of their untimely death spread quickly. They’d been members of the rapidly increasingly sect of Jews who were proclaiming Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah and resurrected Lord. There was an uncommon unity amongst these Christ followers. Some were even selling land or houses and donating the proceeds. Ananais and Sapphira were thought to have done the same. They also sold a piece of property. However, they attempted to deceive the group by embezzling some of the funds. Peter, the designated leader of the group, confronted them. Both Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, fell over dead.
Luke presents this shocking incident at the beginning of Acts chapter 5 as a clear act of divine judgment. The death of Ananias and Sapphira was a warning about the seriousness of sin. A holy, righteous, and just God had already protected his people from the threat of evil outside the church. He would also protect his people from the threat of evil inside.
God’s judgement upon Ananais and Sapphira caused everyone, both those inside and outside the church alike, to fear the Lord. Many Christians today emphasize the love and mercy of God to the neglect of his complete and total separateness from sin. But God will not be mocked. We would do well to stop whistling past Ananais and Sapphira’s grave and avoid God’s judgement by abandoning sin.
