Onomatopoeia

“People thought evil, imagined evil- evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart.” Genesis 6:5b-6 (MSG)

Growing my vocabulary has been a continual part of my educational endeavor. When I come across a new word, not a neologism, I write the word with the definition on an index card that I review until the word is embedded in mind. A few weeks ago, a new word that I encountered was onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is defined as “word that imitates the sound it represents”. A few examples are zip, gush, drip, splash, and kerplunk.

As I was pondering onomatopoeia and its meaning, I thought of the word sin. Sin is like it sounds; dirty, nasty, ugly and yet, none of these adjectives nor the true meaning of sin can really be defined and sound like it truly is. Sin breaks the heart of God. Its cost is more than we can pay, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The cost of sin is Grace: God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace- it sounds like something that cannot be purchased, something hard to truly grasp, a beauty in it that defies description. God is grace, of grace and grace comes only through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). I do not really think grace sounds like what it is, for true grace cannot be heard; only known.

Does sin make your ears hurt? Do you know grace? You can. I John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” From evil to forgiven, from experiencing sin to experience grace has been paid for us by Christ; all we need to do is to be truly repentant and then accept what is freely given (Romans 3:24). What word do you want your life to sound like today?



Digging deeper: Isaiah 63:9-10; Ephesians 4:30; Psalm 11:5, 7: Micah 7:18-19; Titus 2:11; Ephesians 1:7

Hiding My Sin

"But I know you well- where you stay and when you come and go." 2 Kings 19:27a, Isaiah 37:28a.

I remember watching a tv show where a very special vase had been broke by kids playing ball in the house, something they had been repeatedly told not to do. The kids tried to glue to vase back together and looked like a successful job. At least until the mother went to water the plant and the water seeped out everywhere. The kids were found out.

Now and then I am like that when I sin. I want to try and hide what I have done from God. I know better. God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, so why do I try and hide it from Him? Guilt, shame, pride. And yet, the bible tells us in Numbers 32:23 “and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Through the work of the Holy Spirit God works on my heart about the sin, and about trying to hide it from Him.
However, when I confess, forgiveness is immediate. My father loves me and wanted to have that sin out in the open so that I may rid myself of it and have the desired relationship with Him.

Father, forgive me for trying to hide my sin and for my sin. I know You are loving and want me to walk in your ways, ways that are for my good. I ask for forgiveness and thank you that You see me, when I am good, and when I am bad and You love me regardless. Amen.