Question: Being low-income, I usually ask for the senior discount at stores even though I’m a few years younger than the required age. Is this wrong?

Answer: Yes. You are being dishonest with these merchants, and you know it.  Even if you try to justify yourself by saying these store owners are rich, and you live on a low-income, you’re still lying.  (See Exodus 20:16) And, before you say that’s just Old Testament law, remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:31. He said, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” ( NKJV )

Unfortunately, even Believers sometimes think their behavior can be hidden from God if they can hide them from man.  How else can you explain people who proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior yet purposely commit sinful acts?  Most of us can name more than one such person who has tried to hide their sins. These sins have ranged from acts of sexual immorality and cheating on their income taxes to stealing and being mean to people.  Even recent news stories include cases of politicians who proclaim their belief in traditional marriage, then hurt their Christian witness after being caught cheating on their spouse. We also have heard the heart-breaking stories of children being sexually abused by their pastors and church leaders.  All these people thought they were hiding their sinful behaviors.

While you can sometimes hide your actions from man, you can’t hide them from God!  The Lord says in Jeremiah 23:24, “Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?… Do I not fill heaven and earth?….”  And, Hebrews 4:13 says, “…all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” So, even though you may think you are getting away with your sins because you can “pull one over” on your fellow-man, Jesus still knows all about the things you do.  And, God will not be tricked by you!  He will hold you accountable for your actions.  In fact, Galatians 6:7 says, ” Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

However, because of God’s great love for us, He has provided the only way for us to be saved from the fatal punishment for our sins. (See John 3:16)  And that way is by our accepting God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior!  Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore, we all need a Savior since we can’t ever be good enough to save ourselves.  Jesus, the only one to be sinless and perfect, took the punishment we deserve for our sins by dying on the Cross. Praise God, He rose to life again on the third day!

So, thankfully, we can receive God’s free gift of salvation! Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Turn away from your sinful behavior (repent) and start living your life to please God!  The time has come to stop hiding!

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace