Why should a man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Lamentations 3:39 NKJV
How would the sinner answer this question?
Because it isn’t fair. God is supposed to be loving. If he loved me, he wouldn’t hurt me. To punish me for sins, which he created me to want to do, and which everyone else does, isn’t fair. If he is really a loving God, he will forgive me when I mess up.
How would the repentant answer this question?
Because it isn’t right. I already confessed my sins so I shouldn’t still suffer for them. I am supposed to be forgiven. What good is forgiveness if I still have to suffer for my mistakes anyway? I gave up a lot to come to Jesus and it wasn’t so I would just still be punished for my sins.
How would the saint answer this question?
Because I am his child. I may mess up now and then, but I’m not nearly as bad as the people in the world. There are people in the world who are murderers and thieves and they don’t get punished for their sins. I am his child. If the people in the world see that even God’s children suffer when they sin, why would they ever want to come to Christ?
How would the Savior answer this question?
Surrender. Jesus didn’t complain when he was lifted up to suffer the punishment for my sins. It wasn’t fair; He didn’t deserve to die. It wasn’t right; He hadn’t sinned. He was the beloved Son of God, the only holy child of God. When he faced the punishment for the sins of mankind he asked, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” Why should I be punished for sin? He answered his own question with a declaration of surrender. “Into Thy hands I commit my spirit.”
How would my relationship with God transform if my response to the punishment for my sin were surrender?
Into your hands, my God, I commit my spirit.
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