Where Sin Abounded

But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…
Romans 5:20 KJV

When I told John that I had watched the movie Spotlight, he asked me if God was in it. I had to think about that for a minute, because I knew he was asking a question about how God was presented in the movie. I was thinking about all that the Spirit was showing me through the movie, so I had to switch gears. My answer was something along the lines of, “Not really, but considering the subject matter, I don’t think that there was outright hatred of God either.” It’s a very relevant question to me, because so few stories today, in whatever medium you choose, feature the abounding of grace in response to sin.

Where Sin Abounded, Hopelessness Reigned

As the world spirals deeper into lawlessness, the “where sin abounded” part of the verse is featured more and more often without the promise that “grace did much more abound.” This is a subtle and insidious accusation against God, and one that I see ever more frequently.

There are true horrors in this world, as the movie Spotlight clearly documented, but that’s not the whole of the story. It’s not hard to believe the “where sin abounded” part, because we can see that without even having to search it out. The “grace did much more abound” part, however, is not always evident to someone outside the story – especially if they don’t want to see it. In fact, it’s not always evident to the person inside the story if they don’t want to see it.

In my days of hating God, I refused to see His grace in my life. I didn’t want to see it, so for the most part, I didn’t. Now I look back and it’s really all I can see. Grace and mercy cover every breath that I took and take today. Grace, grace, and more grace, particularly “where sin abounded.”

Where Sin Abounded, GRACE Was

It’s easy to be grieved by what I read and watch and hear and see. Evil doesn’t even really try to hide any more, and lies proliferate like bunnies. The Enemy has no interest in reminding us that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” In fact, he does his best to hide that truth. And it is TRUTH!

This beautiful truth carries hope and faith and LOVE in it, and I am making it part of my prayer for the walking wounded and those who love them. The rising horror is real, but it’s not the victor. “Where sin abounded” is only part of the story. Grace and love are the end of it, written into the narrative by the Author of every story, and I will hold to that Truth. I will stand on that promise.